Manage what?

I want to continue this discussion, perhaps with myself, but it helps to write it out.

In the last post I wrote about "relationships" and what they are. I chose to start from the back so that "manage" was the last thing we will discuss. So what do I mean by stuff?

This depends on your job, family status (married, single, with kids...), and activities. Each of these categories have "stuff" associated with them. Paper, letters, files, print cartridges, toys, kitchen tools, sports equipment, lawn and garden equipment, certificates, finances, and anything else that you touch through the days. We can't begin to list all of it.

So why do we need to learn to manage these things, these inanimate objects? Because, though they are inanimate objects, not managing them will cause them at some time to come to life and bite you. This I guarantee.

Just a quick reminder that we are still talking about the general area of administration.

Let's work backward

In the last post I used the word "relationship" in explaining things we have to manage. Some may have a negative reaction to that idea. Let me explain. By relationship I mean those people who are in our lives. That includes God, my spouse, my children, my friends, and all those I touch in some way through a day. I used "relationship" because the idea of "managing people" seems like an invasion into their lives. And in fact I can't change them. I can, though, manage the investment I make in these relationships. That is the part I can work with day to day.

Administration - Gift, Skill or Stupid

I've been asked to develop a training module on ADMINISTRATION - for pastors. The comment was that many pastors have no idea how to do administration in their churches or in some cases their life. So, I thought I would develop it here so that I can add your feed back to my learning module.

By using the term "learning module," I'm saying, it is part of the training a pastor needs- probably only a part of the training in administration.

But you say, "I'm not the administrator, I have an administrator." Nice. But, you, the pastor need to have some ability in the area of administration. Why? Your own life, your families life and your church need you to be involved. No, you don't need to be THE administrator of your church but, you do need to be able,to some degree, to administrate, manage, order, and organize - with the help of the Holy Spirit - those things you have been given responsibility for by the Lord.

This is an area in which I have some gifting - it comes without much effort - and I have spent the last 40 years trying to improve. Perhaps you are one of the gifted or, perhaps, that is a gift that you never received. Let's see if we can help you develop the gift, or if you are the latter, give you some help developing some of the skills that will serve you, your family and your church family.

In the past week I have been trying to think about this question of administration. But first, let's get one thing clear, I may not always refer to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit directly, but everything I write has their involvement implied.

There are two thoughts - so far - that seem important.

1. the system you use is not as important as being consistent in your use of the system
2. you need to manage three things: time, stuff, and relationships.

So what do we mean by administration? My definition would run something like, administration is that set of skills/gifts that allow my life to operate in a way that brings me a sense of peace at the end of the day.

I'm going to stop there for now. I will be interested in receiving your comments and thoughts.