There are great books and messages on dealing with strong-willed kids and strong-willed spouses. Dealing with strong-willed associates is common too. But there are few model insights for the clash of those titans. The protection business is filled with strong-willed associates; men and women. Almost daily, I correspond with some security operator having issues with a person, persons or me. Some are more right than wrong or vice versa; but of course, not in their mind. We can learn from the marriage model. My wife and I are both strong willed. We learned (and keep learning) that being right is not as important as being in agreement. Getting there can be painful. Being right is important to me. I am responsible if something fails, so I must be the one seeing things clearly, then leading through the jungle. Well,…
2020 February
(rerun of TAI first published on 2/3/13) Those with the heart of protection should always be ready to state why we feel the way we feel and do the things we do. We may hope for an opportunity to make a presentation justifying the need to the executive board or the senior pastor. To be so prepared is good, but we should plan as if our only chance for that speech might happen as we get in step with the pastor in the short walk between his car and the church doors, or on an elevator between floors. In smaller churches, an audience with the right people is easier. Even then we should be well prepared to state our passion in a crisp and effective manner. So, following are some things I may say in such a sidewalk presentation. I encourage you to be ready with your own points. Pastor…
As news rolled out the afternoon of 2/13/20 concerning the discovery of little Faye Swetlik’s body, I couldn’t get her picture out of my mind. It had nothing to do with a church, but it was a child. As Valentine’s Day dawned, little Faye got no candy kisses. She never saw the Valentine cards the rest of her 1st grade class made for her anticipating her safe return. I sat and looked at her picture for way too long early the next morning as I thought of the innocent life of a happy little girl cut short by evil. Faye Swetlik Kayla Gomez-Orcozco I remembered Bullard Texas, where on 11/1/16, a similar story emerged. Spanish-speaking Templo de Restauracion Apostolico…