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Are You Looking at the Big Picture? How to Keep Your Eye on the Ball…
Orginally published on Monday, August 25, 2008 at 7:06 AM
by Todd Rhoades
A little video exercise for you today. First, take a look at this video. It's in Japanese, but you'll soon figure it out...
How does this relate to your church work this week? Well, I'm glad you asked...
Sometimes as leaders, we’re enticed to look at the very minute details of ministry. Maybe we micro-manage our staff. Maybe we get too concerned about the tiny details of things that aren’t really important (or aren’t our responsibility). Or maybe we become focused in on one area of ministry so much that other, just as important areas of ministry, are left ignored.
You’ve heard of the expression “Keep your eyes on the ball”. Well, the people in this little video experiment thought they had their eyes on the ball. But did you see what happened when they attempted to kick it? They instantly (and embarrassingly) found out that, while they could still see the ball; it wasn’t exactly where they thought it was.
Where is your ball (ministry) headed this week? And what lenses (binoculars) are you looking at your ball through? If you’ve strayed off course, kicking the air instead of the ball, take a few minutes this morning to take off your binoculars. Then, after taking a good, long look (and a good, long prayer), kick your ball as hard as you can!
Have a great week!
Todd
PS—Any comments? I’d love to hear them!
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There are 6 Comments:
Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.
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Posted by Peter Hamm
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:18 AM
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Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:34 AM
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Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:35 AM
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Posted by Pastor J
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:40 AM
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Monday, August 25, 2008 at 8:42 AM
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Posted by Stephanie
Monday, August 25, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Post Your Comments:And avoid horizontal stripes… and bunny ears that size…
No, seriously, this is actually a video of a staff meeting I attended once. You might add that my ball is not the only one on the field, and I should be sensitive to stuff that’s going on that isn’t my deal, maybe even help with it even if (shock and awe) it’s not “my job.”
Great video!
Todd,
Thank you for the laugh and for the eye-opening realization challenge of “keeping my eye on the ball” ... or as Paul put it ... on the goal that is before me. Not just in ministry, but also in our spiritual life as pastor’s we can get our eye off of our own spiritual life/needs and when that happens, stripes or no stripes, we fall flat on our face (or whatever).
Have a rgeat day and week Todd!
Actually, it seems to me it applies to ministry in just the opposite way: they’re wearing binoculars. They can see things that are far away, but they’re having trouble with the job that’s up close. Sometimes we have big dreams and visions, but if you’re the pastor, you have to stop and focus on the job in front of you, in faith and love and hope, and do it well, trusting that it’s part of getting to the big dream and vision!
it reminds me of many churches I have been a part of or served in. Alot of people running around and the leadership (guy in bunny ears) not leading them or really helping them, just standing there watching it all take place.
Hilarious video!
The Eternally Cool One,
Pastor J
Two things: First, the entire team needs to know where the ball is at all times, and second they must be able to see the goal. Without these two factors, you get a very dysfunctional staff that will get somewhere, but it will be purely accidental if they actually score a goal.
Ministry is a team sport where everyone on the team must understand what a goal is and how the team plans to get there.
Interesting, thanks.
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