Barnabas File

“We will never be able to repay the privileges we have been given, but we can try.”—Seth Godin Our Bible study this week was on the parable of the laborers in the vineyard ( Matthew 20:1-16).  As with most parables, we might interpret it in various ways.  One way is to think about it as an expression of an equitable community.  Everyone who was willing to work received a fair day’s wage.  This meant that everyone was cared for and provided a positive ripple effect for the larger community; however, the first hired were interested in their own reward rather than whether the other workers had what they needed.  Rather than celebrating the landowner’s generosity, they questioned it. The bottom line is that in real community, we look out for each other.  How might we apply this to the world of work today? In  Give and Take:  Why Helping Others Drives Our Success , Adam Grant poses this question: “Every time we intera...

Having a coach is a good investment for a client. A coach provides the client the opportunity to identify one’s growing edge and to live into it.     This involves discerning a desired outcome, action steps to pursue to get there, and measures of success.     The coach also helps the client identify the resources available to assist in that quest. Resources include time, relationships, abilities, and strengths.   Why should we encourage clients to work from their strengths rather than focusing on developing their weaknesses?  The client should take advantage of what he or she already does well in working toward a goal.  Generally, there is some innate reason that we are not strong in a certain area.  This may be natural inclination, lack of passion, or personal disposition.   Marcus Buckingham has noted:   “You grow most in your areas of greatest strength. You will improve the most, be the   most creative, be the most...

I was first introduced to Celtic Christianity over thirty years ago when I heard Professor George Hunter make a presentation based on his book, The Celtic Way of Evangelism.     Hunter argued that the Celtic church converted Ireland from paganism to Christianity in a remarkably short period, and then proceeded to send missionaries throughout Europe.    He observed that its strengths provide a basis of effective evangelism in our time.   Celtic Christianity is a fascinating blend of early Christian beliefs and practices with the indigenous spiritual traditions of the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall. There are some key elements of the strategy that resonate with our contemporary culture and churches might consider as they seek to impact individuals, affinity groups, and communities with the Christian message.   First, the emphasis on monasticism.  Monasteries were the heart of Celtic Christianity. They were not just pla...

What does leadership mean to you?     Leadership is more than articulating and pursuing a healthy vision for your congregation or organization.     Effective leadership is based on understanding yourself and others, then exercising the appropriate actions based on that knowledge.   In recent years, we have labeled this constellation of competencies Social and Emotional Intelligence.  So, what is Social and Emotional Intelligence?   It’s being aware of our own emotions, and the emotions of others, IN THE MOMENT, and then using that information to manage ourselves and manage our relationships.    The four components of Social and Emotional Intelligence are:   ·        Self-Awareness--Being aware of what’s going on within us, in the moment. ·        Other Awareness--Being aware of what might be going on within others and responding with care and consideration. ·  ...

Have you worked with a leader who just did not “get it”?     They were not aware of the impact that their behavior had on others or were unaware of the emotions of other individuals.     These skills comprise what we term “social and emotional intelligence.” Leaders with high social and emotional intelligence can understand, empathize with, and motivate others. This fosters trust, loyalty, and open communication within teams.    Social and emotional intelligence is a broad term encompassing our ability to understand and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others, and utilize that understanding to navigate social situations effectively. It's not just about being "nice" or good at reading minds, but rather a set of skills that can significantly impact various aspects of our lives, including: Personal well-being: SEI skills like self-awareness and emotional regulation help us cope with stress, make sound decisions, and build healthy relat...

In our coaching classes, someone will bring up the question, “How do I discover my coaching niche?”     A niche is defined as “a specialized segment of the market for which you are best fitted.” This is an area in which someone might focus their attention as a coach.     Although we believe that a competent coach can use her or his skills to coach persons in any vocation, there are a couple of reasons someone identifies a niche.    First, when you work with someone in a vocation with which you are familiar, you are more comfortable initiating the conversation with that person.  You are more confident.  This does not mean that you expect to share your expertise or experiences with the client, but your background helps you to understand the playing field and provide a mental framework to ask good questions.   Second, as you begin to develop your coaching practice, the natural strategy is to pursue contacts within your network—people y...