By: Shawn Hart on March 8, 2018
Isaiah 65:17-23 (NKJV) 17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,…
By: Mark Petersen on March 8, 2018
One of the most profound and surprising days of my life was a day in 2008 which I spent touring the Vatican Museums with art historian Elizabeth Lev. Walking through the museums, she offered compelling insights and thoughtful interpretations of the frescos, adornments, murals, tapestries, mosaics, and statuary flagrantly littered throughout the sacred spaces of…
By: Dave Watermulder on March 8, 2018
It’s an intimidating book, isn’t it? We’ve all heard of it, we’ve all talked about it, and it’s a cultural reference point. The Protestant Ethic and the “Spirit” of Capitalism by Max Weber has generated enormous scholarship, literary-critical response, as well as discussion within popular culture. And yet, this is a book that I had…
By: Chris Pritchett on March 8, 2018
One of the common phrases that many mothers say to their children when they act out is, “That was uncalled for.” That’s an interesting phrase, isn’t it? “Uncalled for.” It’s as if there is something outside of ourselves that calls us to be who we ought to be, and when we are acting apart from…
By: Jennifer Williamson on March 8, 2018
Weber’s Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism intrigues me. I understand why this work has stood the test of time, for though his empirical arguments seem to be rooted in personal observation, his theoretical explanations of the correlations between Protestantism and Capitalism resonate and draw the modern reader into the conversation. I found myself…
By: Christal Jenkins Tanks on March 8, 2018
As a leader it is inevitable that we will encounter experiences and situations that produce growing pains. Some of which can come as a blindsided occurrence while others are a set of circumstances that have built up over time. Whether the pain comes from financial stress, staff issues, exponential growth or even personal crisis, each…
By: Katy Drage Lines on March 8, 2018
There is much in our assigned reading of Samuel Chand’s Leadership Pain[1] this week that troubles me (not least that the assumption of “success” is “growth”, or that a book written on leadership in 2015 uses male pronouns). I was bothered by the goal of ladder climbing, “devils” of resistance being signs we can/can’t handle…
By: Jennifer Dean-Hill on March 7, 2018
As much as we hate to admit it, pain or discomfort does produce change. If it doesn’t break you, it produces character as reinforced by the popular phrase: What doesn’t break you makes you stronger. Chand reminds of some important principles of pain: “The longer I avoid a problem, the bigger it generally becomes. Pain…
By: Jim Sabella on March 7, 2018
Dr. Chand has approached a topic that is seldom talked about publicly: the topic of pain in ministry. If I had to sum up his theme in one sentence, it would be, pain is a part of change, leaders are change agents and therefore, pain is a part of…
By: Dan Kreiss on March 7, 2018
How is it possible to fully ascertain the underpinnings of democratic capitalism, particularly as it is so ubiquitous and impossible to see beyond? Yet, Max Weber attempts just such effort and concludes that capitalism owes much to the Christian faith, particularly that which stems from Calvinist theology. Discerning whether or not one belonged to the…
By: Mary Walker on March 7, 2018
Growth, Change, Loss, Pain — Growth I couldn’t possibly write a book on leadership pain without honoring Brenda, my wife and “pain partner” since 1979 and my best friend since 1973. Together we have been through the darkest times—leadership failures, poverty, deaths, marriage challenges, parenting, failed business ventures, people disappointment, betrayal, plans gone awry, and…
By: Lynda Gittens on March 7, 2018
When ever you work hard toward a goal, there will be pain. If you are building body muscles, there is pain. If you are losing weight, there is pain. If you give birth, there is pain. Can we say, anything worth while…
By: Jake Dean-Hill on March 6, 2018
I decided to start this blog with a little research around this concept of Protestant Ethic and the author who coined the term in 1904. Max Weber was a German sociologist who was born the eldest son to parents Max and Helen in Erfurt, Germany on April 21, 1864 and died June 14, 1920 in…
By: Kristin Hamilton on March 6, 2018
Growth = Change Change = Loss Loss = Pain Thus Growth = Pain[1] I don’t think anyone would debate that pain is a part of the human condition. There are many debates of why pain exists or where pain comes from, but the fact remains that humans experience pain. When we are young we…
By: Kyle Chalko on March 2, 2018
Like many, I’ve read dozens of leadership and ministry books. Most are written by high achieving leaders who are successful and renowned. That is partly what has enabled them to write (or ghost write) a book on this topic. And according to Mcintosh, its possible that these leaders were driven to reach such high points…
By: Greg on March 2, 2018
“Either follow the vision I have laid out or I am disbanding this leadership board,” said Pastor Paul after being challenged for his direction. Having a strong personality seems to be what the world sees as a successful leader. China has become a power house in business and thus has many kinds of leaders. Unfortunately…
By: Trisha Welstad on March 2, 2018
Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership is a solid introductory work on the sin and brokenness all leaders, indeed all people, face. With a basic mash up of theology and psychology, the Dark Side begins to unravel some of the fundamental shadow sides such as narcissism and codependency that tend to be revealed under the…
By: Kristin Hamilton on March 2, 2018
And if the dam breaks open many years too soon And if there is no room upon the hill And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon. – Pink Floyd When I was a child I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of…
By: Shawn Hart on March 2, 2018
Let’s be honest…anything that has the slightest reference to Star Wars usually captures at least a little bit of my interest. In the area of Gary McIntosh and Samuel Rima’s work “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership”, I found the title especially compelling before it challenges the role of leadership itself. The connection between Star…
By: Chip Stapleton on March 1, 2018
This week we read Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership: How to Become an Effective Leader by Confronting Potential Failures by Gary McIntosh and Samuel Rima. While it wouldn’t be honest to say that I have enjoyed reading all of the books we have been assigned in this doctoral program, I have appreciated all of them and,…
