A digital commonplace for a Regular Guy called Charlie Pharis
Leadership and management guru Peter Drucker died early today. He was 95.
Rick Warren and others give Peter Drucker loads and loads of credit for influencing leaders today.
I, for one, thought he summed it up pretty good when he said…
Efficiency is getting things done right. Effectiveness is getting the right things done.
Forget test scores. Forget certification qualifications for teachers. Forget all those bumper stickers about your honor student and all that stuff. There’s real education news today…
Rick Steiner Wins School Board Seat!
I don’t know if there are any conflicts or disagreements on local school boards around the country or not, but I’d be willing to bet there won’t be on our local board. Not with the Dog-Faced Gremlin on the team!
How can a guy get so lucky? I live in the same county where Gary Lamb pastors and one of my wife’s bosses is Rick Steiner! How cool is that?
Redneck pastor, that is!
My buddy Brian Bowen has closed up shop at his old blog and has migrated all his good stuff to his new digs! Check Brian out over this way.
My buddy, Gary Lamb has Prison Break.
Terry Storch had Blow Out – in a former life.
Just about everybody has Lost.
So, I guess it’s time for me to come clean as well…
Hello, my name is Charlie and I’m addicted to House and I’m getting a little dependent on Nip/Tuck.
I don’t know why, but I woke up this morning with that little opening riff from Smash Mouth’s Walkin’ on the Sun on my mind and in my ears. (C’mon…admit it…it gets you hooked, too, doesn’t it?)
Anyway, at this very moment, I’m listening to Astro Lounge and that other one via Musicmatch Jukebox.
Talk about synchronicity! The Peanuts cartoon is the cartoon of the day for today, November 8, 2005.
Yesterday, I started in on Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus’s little book, Leaders: Strategies for Taking Charge and on page xiii of the foreword, Bennis and Nanus reference the same Peanuts cartoon! Amazing! (You think somebody somewhere may be trying to tell me something?)
They’re talking about the significance of passion in effective leadership. Bennis and Nanus argue that “mission statements” by themselves aren’t a whole lot of good for anything…
Without a sense of alignment behind that common purpose, the company is in trouble. The opposite of purpose is aimlessness, drifting. But it can’t be any old purpose that will animate, galvanize and energize the people. It has to have resonance, meaning. (p. xiii)
On paper, we – our lives, our churches, our families, whatever – are always at the top of our game. We can define what we want to achieve. We can act busy as though we’re actually doing something. But without passionate action, we’re in danger of being correct, without doing right. I think it was Erwin McManus who included this quote in one of his books…
Of course, we had a mission statement. It’s the mission we’re lacking.
On paper, the hated Yankees win every time. On paper, Florida State kicks North Carolina State’s butt every week. On paper, churches are set and destined to grow. On paper, leaders are effective and make an impact. On paper, believers are personally involved in the mission of the Kingdom. On paper, schools prepare students for success in real life.
But, in the words of that great philosopher, Skip Caray…
That’s why we play the games.
On paper, I’m pretty dang good! How ’bout you?
But just remember, Schroeder: We don’t live on paper…
Good day today…
Started a new small group – Sunday School, for you SBCers out there – this morning. Yeah, yeah…I know…but you can’t begin to imagine what a step forward a new group is for some in our church.
Then, our attendance was up as well…some guests returned, and even made their way to the front seats (insert Baptist asthma here!) and even took notes, and, and…responded on their cards about some issues they’re facing!
Spent the afternoon with the family again…lunch, some errands, and then off to REI, to invest part of “pastor’s wife appreciation” on a new pair of hiking boots for the lovely and gracious “Mrs. Just Charlie.” Got a good deal, had great customer service, and enjoyed a wonderful time.
Then, across the street for the first – of many! – Eggnog Latte of the season!
Now home, chillin’ with Windham Hill…
I’m especially partial to Paul McCandless’s oboe on We Gather Together, the Silvermans’ flute on Simple Gifts, Lisa Lynne’s harp on Alleluia, and John Sebastian’s harmonica (yep, that John Sebastian!) on Wagoner’s Lad.
Great reflective music, just perfect for a grateful Sunday night unwind…
Overheard outside the hospital this afternoon…
You know what’s the weirdest thing?
No, what?
Doctors, nurses, and hospital workers out here smoking!
Why is that so weird?
Well, ’cause it’s just not healthy and all. It’s stupid!
Oh…the picture? That’s a picture of the guy who was talking about “the weirdest thing.”
Weird, all right.
Just not healthy and all.
Stupid.
The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive his deception, the one who lies with sincerity.
-Andre GideHypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised.
-Tolstoy
Except we used Super Glue. And it was not pretty.
Man sues after sticking to toilet in Home Depot.
The fall is my favorite time of year. And in the words of the great philosopher, Forrest Gump…
That’s all I have to say about that.