March 2, 2009  

Ministry Tools
Bob Burroughs

Quote

  Four characteristics of a Workaholic:

1• A workaholic maintains a frantic schedule.

2• He is consistently preoccupied with performance.

3• He finds it difficult to refuse additional responsibilities.

4• He is unable to relax.  Bill Hybels

Scripture

"I found great pleasure in hard work."  Ecclesiastes 2:10a

Prayer

Father, this is the day You have made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it—regardless of our circumstances. You are still God. You are still on Your throne. You still control the universe, of which we are a small, infinite part. Empower us anew to do the work You have for us to do—and do it wisely, carefully, best we can, for we know only the best is worthy of You. Grant us the wisdom to be able to say “no” when necessary and not to be discouraged when we do—if “no” is for the right reason, such as family, self or job load. You alone know our every need. Grant us Your Spirit this day. May we feel Your presence near us—even as we pray this prayer! I pray in the name of the One who always drew apart and away from daily stress—to pray and rest, Jesus Christ. Amen.

What Think Ye?

First Things…First

Leaders prioritize their time, perhaps not even realizing that in their choice of time, they are doing exactly what they want to do because it is tied to personal purpose. 

What leaders think is important is where they are going to spend the majority of their time! Every person on the earth has 168 hours per week. Regardless of wealth or station in life, no one has less and none have more time.  

Leaders are stressed at every level these days by people continually asking for their time, and most leaders have a very difficult time in saying the magic words: "N0." “No” is a complete sentence. Leaders fear that if they say "NO," they won't be asked again, they might hurt someone's feelings, the opportunity just seems to be too good to turn down, they think one more thing in an already crowded schedule won't hurt, or they think someone else won't do it as good as they can do it! How sad. Learn to say "No" more often. It gets easier with practice.

Leaders should be prepared to notice negative and subtle changes in family or job, which are brought on by too much outside responsibility. Some of these changes on your behalf might include:
    • irritability         • anger
    • ignoring           • sharp words
    • loneliness         • frustration
    • fear

A leader should to list the important things in his life and adhere to that list religiously! High priorities for good leaders should be:

• quality time with in personal devotions. It's hard to lead without instructions from the Boss
• quality time with renewal and updating with the leader's best disciplines. A leader can't give and give without some renewal and inspiration from an outside source
• quality time with spouse--away from kids, long walks, reflective, romantic evenings—often  
  
• quality time with children--ice cream after school, special Saturday breakfast, ball games
• quality time with grandchildren, sending letters and cards, making phone calls, getting them surprises    
  
• quality time spent on the position or job,making sure your best shot is involved in your job and you aren't giving the best away somewhere else
• recreation--an absolute must for leader survival   

Things a leader might consider pruning:

• assignments that are low items on the personal scale
• activities that take the leader away regularly from family and job
• activities--similar in nature that can be cut without    concern
• time spent on things not important to family, job or calling

Just because your boss is a "work-a-holic" is no reason you have to follow in those footsteps and be on the course for an early heart attack, family problems, nervous break-down, job stress or all of these!

Time is a priority. Use it wisely!

What think ye?

Leadership

Preventative Self-Care for the Leader
(Or: “How to NOT become a Work-a-holic!")
Robert Dale

It is always wise for the creative leader to take time to do this personal checkup. The leader may be better able to plan for the new Music Ministry year and intentionally plan preventive steps to be taken from the information gained from monitoring their leadership activities. 

Dale suggests that the leader can track his feelings of fatigue, potential burnout and do preventative self-care by simply making and analyzing two lists. 

1. The leader should make a "drain list" of the activities, situations, obligations, and relationships that tend drain him spiritually, emotionally, and physically. This ledger sheet will give the leader a listing of "expenditures" in life and leader-ministry.  Be thorough and thoughtful.

2. The leader should make a "recharge list" of the activities, situations, obligations, and relationships that tend to renew him and "charge the physical and mental batteries." This list reflects the leader’s "income" resources.

Now take each list and rank each item from the most intense drains and recharges to the least intense. This will help you understand which drains and recharges are most significant and which are marginal in ministry and relationships.

Then, examine the "drain list" and ask these questions:

• Can I get rid some of the lower ranking items?
• Can I delegate to someone a few of the midrange items?
• Can I cope more effectively with some of the top-level items?

Now the leader should turn to his "recharge list" and examine it closely, answering these vital questions:

• How really vital are the lower ranking items to me now?
• Should I concentrate on strengthening the mid-range items?
• How can I recommit myself to the highest ranking items?

A good leader will find this a very good exercise to see if “workaholicism” might be in your future.

Marriage & Family

Are You “There” With Your Family?

Bryan E. Robinson, Department of Counseling, Special Education and Child Development, University of North Carolina

• The spouse of a workaholic typically says he's "not there." Workaholics can't let go of work and, therefore, aren't good parents and aren't involved in raising the children.
• A workaholic believes everything revolves around him. He's the sun, and everyone else is a planet. The wife and children learn that their role is to support him so he can work, or think about work, 24/7. Children of workaholics often feel they must be perfect and have high levels of anxiety.
• In the past, workaholics have typically been men, but the problem is becoming more common among women as greater numbers of females move into upper management.
• However, workaholics don't have to be employed outside the home and some women show signs of workaholism in running a home and raising children. Some women with workaholic tendencies find their way to caretaking occupations such as nursing or the ministry where there's always one more patient or congregant to see.
• People should realize that workaholism is serious and not a good thing. It can destroy marriages, and in extreme cases, it can be deadly-sometimes, people kill themselves if they don't get help for the underlying problem.
• Some have learned the importance of setting aside time for family. The kids, as you probably are aware, always know if you've attended their ballgames.
• At its worst, working long hours is like alcoholism. You ignore your family, and that's catastrophic.
• Workaholism destroys marriages and harms children. We need to give workaholism the stigma it deserves.

Inspirational Corner

Phillip Landgrave

  Phillip Landgrave is a long-time and dear friend. He served as a Music Professor, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY, from where he has retired and now lives. He has always served a church in that community as their music minister all during his teaching and now in retirement! He is a well-known and respected composer/arranger of church music. His “signature composition” was a youth musical that many of our MME readers will have sung in their younger days: Purpose! I also had the privilege of having his son, Kevin, as a student in my Samford University Freshmen Music Theory Class—and he was one smart cookie—a note off the old score! Phillip has a great passion for Senior Adult Church Musicians. His words will challenge you who serve these Godly men and women—or those who perhaps should add them to their music ministry.

How About A Ministry of Music To and Through The Senior Adult Choir?

My wake-up call came about 30 years ago as I sat in a congregation and heard a fabulous Texas “senior” adult choir sing a program of uplifting songs--with exuberance and vitality. I thought, with a tear in my eye, “I wish my mom could hear this. I wish she could be in a group like this!” She loved to sing, but being a “senior” and hard of hearing, there was no such experience available for her in my church (and I was her Minister of Music.)

You see, at that time in my music ministry, I was hooked on the music of the day, the “Youth Music of the 70’s”--with the guitars, drums and the “folk music styles” of the times. I was singing it, leading it and writing it for the “hip” youth crowd and never really gave much if any thought about the “over the hill” crowd.   
 
But when I got back home after this concert, I started thinking about those “older people” who love to sing, and they can sing, and they are ever increasing in numbers, and I had been treating them like the “hum-along” element in our worship, with little regard for their needs and the contributions they could and would make with my ministry to and through them!  

So I decided I’d give it a try. I began to learn about them, from them, their abilities and their limitations. I also learned about their love and support for people (like me) who would give them the time and effort to use their gifts for the Lord.

For some thirty years now, I’ve added to my calling as a Seminary Music Professor, a music minister, and a composer--a ministry to senior adults through music as I am able to enable them to use their gifts to the glory of God.

So what about you--and your music ministry to Senior Adults?

If you need some assistance, there are plenty of help in books and articles and music!
 
BOOKS:

• Senior Adult Choir Ministry, and Senior Adult Choir Ministry: the Beginning and Beyond, Lyndell Vaught
• Catch the Age Wave: A Handbook for Effective Ministry with Senior Adults, Arn, Win and Charles
• Senior Adult Ministry in the 21st Century, David Gallagher                                                                  
  

A great amount of music is being written--designed especially for Senior Adults with their musical abilities and needs in mind. Anthems, hymn arrangements, and musicals, ranging from simple to music with an “accessible challenge” have been written by today’s composers.—some to meet the needs of their own choirs!                                                  
       
Incidentally, or on “Purpose,” consider inviting some of your over 50 (AARP seniors) to be a part of their ministry and join in singing with your Senior Adult Choir!! After all, we’re all going to be in the same heavenly choir some day soon.

This Idea Will Work

Five MORE Thoughts For Choir and Orchestra Members

1. Don't spill ever in the rehearsal room!! Don't spill anything--period. If you drink coffee, don't spill it. If you have a soft drink or water, don't spill it. It could stain the carpet or make the floor slick and cause someone to fall. If you can't drink it without spilling, don't drink it. (Basses and French Horn players, by the way, are the worst spillers!)

2. If someone near you is consistently singing or playing wrong notes over and over again, quietly tell the director after the rehearsal so he can deal with it. He will be glad you told him about the problem.

3. Hang your robe up neatly!  It will help on the cleaning/pressing bills! (Altos are the worst at this!)

4. Mark in your music or score!  The old proverb says: "He who has not marked his score will sing or play a solo at wrong time!"

  5. Hug a Tenor or Percussionist this week. They always need it.

 

 

 

 

 

Volunteer or Bi-Vocational
Church Music Leaders

• should know how to shout and celebrate   
  
• should know how to cry
• often need to do both
• should know how to walk among their people with a caring and supportive heart
• should pray often with and for their followship
• must be willing to walk up the hill--alone, if it has to be that way
• should have a plan--but is willing to divert from it for a better plan
• should stand tall in times of adversity and stress
• should have a servant's heart
• should be willing to do the dirty work--without getting any credit
• should be able to take constructive criticism without striking back--or pouting
• should know the importance of keeping their people well informed

Wisdom

“For workaholics, all the eggs of self-esteem are in the basket of work.” Judith M. Bardwick 

 

 

 

Humor 

10 Reasons You Might be a Workaholic

1. Your first grader cooks better--and more frequently--than you do.
2. The photos in your office are of your coworkers but none of your family.
3. You believe that only lazy people get a full night's sleep.
4. You can't recall the last time you took a vacation.
5. You communicate with your spouse and children primarily through text messaging.
6. Your computer screensaver is actually a photo of you--working.
7. You miss your co-workers when you are spending quality time with your family.
8. You missed your daughter's dance recital because you were at your boss's daughter's birthday party.
9. You forgot your 20th wedding anniversary but remembered your company's 20th anniversary.
10. Someone cut your face out of the family photo at home.

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