Tag Archives: responsibility

Advice on voting

31 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in Politics

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Not so long ago, several websites posted a supposed letter from Mike Rowe responding to a fan of his asking him to get out and encourage people to vote.  You can read the whole thing here.

Here’s the paragraph that highlights what Rowe thinks about celebrities urging people to get out an vote:

I can’t personally encourage everyone in the country to run out and vote. I wouldn’t do it, even if I thought it would benefit my personal choice. Because the truth is, the country doesn’t need voters who have to be cajoled, enticed, or persuaded to cast a ballot. We need voters who wish to participate in the process. So if you really want me to say something political, how about this – read more.

Rowe makes the claim that voting isn’t a civic duty, it is a right.  Want to understand the difference, then read the article.  He explains is well and in simple terms.

Which brings me to my main point – people wonder what pastor’s should say about voting and urging people to vote.  I imagine there will be a range of answers on this.  Here’s mine, in case you care:

I’m not going to urge you to vote – you do what you want regarding that.  If you are old enough to vote, you shouldn’t have to be urged to go an vote.  If you don’t feel like voting, great, don’t.

What I will say is this – regardless of how the election turns out, God is still God.  Regardless of who will be taking over the leadership of the nation, God is still the leader of our lives and our salvation.  Regardless of what promises politicians may make, God is faithful to God’s word.

This is the message we pastors have a responsibility to share – Good news to all regardless of party identification.

A healthy organization?

17 Saturday May 2014

Posted by in Health, Society

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What’s a “healthy” organization?  This is the question on my mind these last few days.  Is an organization that is focused on survival “healthy?”  I don’t think so.  Is an organization “healthy” if it relies on just a few people to do the majority of the work that needs done?  I don’t think that either.  In fact, I would argue that an organization that relies on just a few people to do the majority of the work is dying – but it may not realize it yet.  That doesn’t mean it will die immediately either.

And yet, this seems to be the state of many organizations today – a few do the majority of the work.  But what happens in this situation – Those that do the work start to feel empowered to demand things and the organization usually accommodates their wishes thinking that they will have trouble if they don’t.  What if the person leaves?  Who will pick up the slack – there is so much to do.  It’s just easier to accommodate.

So what’s an organization to do?  What does an organization that wants to thrive, and not just survive, do to correct this?  I have a few thoughts.

1. Limit how much any one person can do, how much they can represent the organization and how much responsibility they have.  This is for everyone’s benefit.

2. Everything should be transparent – everything down to and including money.  Yes, money.  If we can’t be honest about our financial state, then what else are we hiding?  What do we have to fear?  Vulnerability, that’s what.  But healthy organizations are vulnerable organizations that are willing to risk in order to build relationships. You can’t build relationships with secrecy.

3. When conflict arises and people start playing politics in an organization, it is best to address it head on so that the truth can come out.  The truth is what should be considered one of the highest values in any organization.  This goes with integrity and honesty as the key ingredients to a thriving organization as I mentioned earlier.  Honesty and openness kills politics and sneaking and secrets every time.  No one want to openly be the “bad guy” or the mean one or the one who is running a secret campaign to undercut a person.  Everyone wants to be the “nice guy.”  Openness and honesty creates accountability.

There are more aspects of a “healthy” organization.  What would you add to this list?