Balance

a Jesus thought...
First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye. (Luke 6:42)

a Godly thought...
Holiness does not imply the eradication of normal human appetites, but their redirection and control by the Holy Spirit, as Christ is formed within. (p209 Webb)

a leading thought...
Organising is the work we do to put people and tasks together in a structure that works. (p23 Finzel)

a Dave thought...
Balancing career and family is not only about working less, writes Hugh Mackay.
THE art of integrating our working lives and our personal lives is a delicate one, because we know that getting it wrong can be bad for our relationships and our health. This is often described as the problem of "work-life balance", as if work isn't part of life.The available figures suggest that 20 per cent of employees work 50 or more hours a week and 30 per cent regularly work on weekends. Two million Australians lose at least six hours of "family time" through Sunday work, and those hours are generally not fully compensated for by time off during the week. So it's not surprising that 37 per cent of full-time workers say they would like to reduce their working hours.
At the other end of the spectrum, though, the Australian Bureau of Statistics tells us there are 1.8 million Australians who either have no work or not enough to satisfy their needs. So this story is partly about the unequal distribution of work.
It's also about choice. Plenty of people complain about being "overworked" and the very word implies exploitation, victimisation and lack of choice. But, in many cases, we do have a choice and those choices are moral as well as economic, since they affect the wellbeing of others. We choose the kind of lifestyle we want and the level of affluence needed to sustain it. We choose whether or not to send our children to an expensive private school whose fees will increase the pressure on both parents to work. We choose the extent to which we will indulge our children in material ways, where we'll go for our holidays, the kind of cars we'll drive. We even choose debt: no one is forcing us to overspend on our credit cards.

Some resent their long hours; others revel in them as a sign of success. Although extended working hours can cause relationship difficulties at home, the opposite is also true: many people who work long hours are quite frank about their preference for being in the office rather than facing tension and unpleasantness at home.
The problem of work-family balance is real, but the study of working hours doesn't just tell the story of human toil, it also tells the story of human conflict, inconsistency and irrationality. Simple answers? Never.

It is always an area that is hard to get right, and I find it interesting how many committed Salvos are work-aholics, both officers and lay people alike. Unfortunately I also see the the side effects with their children craving for their time and attention.
Personally I have the luxury of working from home but I also promise my wife to be home between 7.30-8.30 each morning and 5.30-7.30 each night and also take my family away for 2 x 2 week holidays per year. Although it is not always possible when you plan ahead it is often very doable. So this will always be a challenge to get right but it is important especially leaders not to just model a huge work ethic as a key to success in the business world but model family first as a key to success for a better society.

Just a thought.

Dunlop Volleys

a Jesus thought...
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

a Godly thought...
The Wesleyan-holiness tradition is rediscovering its evangelical imperative, its social mandate to minister to the poor and marginalised, and its capacity to make a helpful contribution to ecumenical conversation. (p200 Webb)

a leading thought...
Leadership lies more in balancing the right things than in having the right gifts and personality. (p16 Finzel)

a Dave thought...
The Volley Canvas Sport shoe was first developed in 1939 by Adrian Quist a famous tennis player of the era who was employed by Dunlop Rubber Aust. Since 1939, sales have been estimated at around 26 million pairs. Volleys are not only worn as Sports Shoes, many sales have been for casual wear, work footwear, fishing, bushwalking, boating etc. With the current worldwide trend for comfortable canvas footwear Volleys in Australia are reaching new sales heights with their cool styles and colourful patterns.
My 5yo son Noah has been watching me blog while on holidays and suggested that I blog on his dunlop volleys, so he took a picture of them for me yesterday and true to my word here is my contribution. Although he keeps calling them "my nikes" he loves them because they are so comfortable and make him fast!

Many of us have worn these world famous shoes but what I am intrigued with is who decides when they become fashionable again? As they were all the go in the mid 80's when I was cool, but why 20 years later are they back selling like never before? What was old is now retro and cool and also the parents are loving it because they only cost $25! So what else is back, well in the Salvo world I know many are into the high neck uniforms, and also the crest but now is the time to dive back into our heritage and resurrect the old, if anyone says it isn't cool tell them its retro and you should get away with it.

Just a thought.

VCEs Muck-up

a Jesus thought...
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor. (Luke 4:18)

a Godly thought...
Wesley had no time for solitary religion, and therefore created this communal context in which people could grow in grace, and increase in perfection, while awaiting entire sanctification. (p182 Webb)

a leading thought...
L-Long-term record of effectiveness
E-Egos surrendered to Christ
A-Approachable
D-Devotion to spouse and family
E-Excellence in work
R-Reflection of Christlikeness in character
S-Sharing with others (p5 Finzel)

a Dave thought...
POLICE are believed to be investigating allegations that egg-throwing students from a nearby school descended on Toorak's Loreto Mandeville Hall last week before the annual muck-up day, a ritual marking the final day of school for year 12 students.
The Age believes that students ran into the school grounds at lunch time with their school jumpers tied around their heads, throwing eggs at Mandeville students.
One member of the group could face charges of trespass and assault after allegedly abusing a staff member. Mandeville Hall confirmed that the police were involved but declined to comment further.
With thousands of VCE students letting off steam this week before their first exam on Friday, Melbourne's transport operators are alert — but not alarmed.
Connex spokeswoman Kate De Clercq said the train operator was investigating reports of people riding on the back of an Epping train yesterday. Footage posted on YouTube showed students clinging onto the back of a train leaving Windsor Station.
Brighton Grammar principal Michael Urwin said the school planned activities on the last day to minimise misbehaviour. But he conceded it was hard for schools to control students' behaviour when they were off campus.
At Caulfield Grammar's Caulfield campus, the last day at school for the class of 2007 started at 6.15am on Tuesday when students arrived to a jumping castle, slippery slide and sumo wrestling activities put on by the school. After working up an appetite, the students were served breakfast by staff, with the day concluding with a dinner for staff and students.

Love the initiative from Brighton & Caulfield Grammar here as we are always quick to go into damage control and be reactive but surely our best reponse is to celebrate with these graduating students and be proactive.

Well done VCE students for getting this far and enjoy the week with style not stupidity, but most of all prepare yourselves the best you possibly can for your exams, hope you all finish the year with class.

Just a thought.

Unconference

a Jesus thought...
He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. (Luke 3:11)

a Godly thought...
An advantage in the formulation of Christian perfection as perfect love is that love can be expressed irrespective of maturity of performance, level of intelligence, or the limitations of personality flaws. (p179 Webb)

a leading thought... from Empowered Leaders by Hans Finzel
Leadership is a selfless journey that involves devoting yourself to a group of people to accomplish great things for the Lord that you could never do alone. (xviii, Finzel)

a Dave thought...
An unconference is a conference where the content of the sessions is driven and created by the participants, generally day-by-day during the course of the event, rather than by a single organizer, or small group of organizers, in advance. To date, the term is primarily in use in the geek community. Unconference processes like Open Space Technology, however, have been around for over 20 years in other contexts, for example in Future studies as Future workshops. There are also parallels with science-fiction fandom, in which a low-key convention with less structure, not focusing on professionals and guests of honor, is called a Relaxacon.
Open Space Technology is an energizing and emergent way to organize an agenda for a conference. Those coming to the event can post on a wiki ahead of time topics they want to present about or hope others will present about. The wiki can also be used to share who is coming because it is the attendees who have a passion to share that contribute to the event and will make it great.

With the 3 photos above I know which environment I would prefer, but we still seem to have a default setting for the top image, and even though we do some conferences with the feel of the bottom picture the agenda is still very much set by the organisers.

This is the first time I have come across a definition for this type of event and very interested in running an unconference for Salvos in 2008. I am interested in your thoughts or experiences, has anyone been to such an unconference before or would you like to?

Just a thought.

Obesogenic Environment

a Jesus thought...
After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking the questions. (Luke 2:46)

a Godly thought...
Assurance for the child of God is characterised by the inner witness of the Spirit and the external testimony of spiritual fruit within the Christian's life. (p171 Webb)

a leading thought...
The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious. (John Sculley)

a Dave thought...
Individuals cannot take all the blame if they are obese - modern society adds pressure to put on weight, according to a new British report.
The study by government think-tank Foresight called for greater help to counter the "'obesogenic' environment" by designing towns and cities to promote walking and cycling and encouraging people to buy healthier food. "Although personal responsibility plays a crucial part in weight gain, human biology is being overwhelmed by the effects of today's 'obesogenic' environment, with its abundance of energy-dense food, motorised transport and sedentary lifestyles.
Reports are now saying that it would take up to 30 years to change the way we have established the physical environments we live in across the western world. There is also something about having a McDonald's on most corners and less and less visible churches that has resulted in us becoming less healthier physically and spiritually.
50 years ago the Salvos had a strong presence with a corps building in most main streets around Melbourne, now we have half the buildings and mostly in the back streets as fast food outlets and other businesses have moved in. Our biggest presence in the main streets is now Salvos stores and Employment plus, so maybe we have become financially obesogenic like the physical environment we are surrounded by?

Just a thought.

The Debate

a Jesus thought...
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. (Luke 1:53)

a Godly thought...
Wesley considers that there are degrees of grace and faith starting with the a) ignorance of God to the b) fear of God to the beginnings of the c) love of God and ultimately to the perfection of that love. (p162 Webb)

a leading thought...
Whether you're an untested rookie or a successful veteran, if you want to be a champion tomorrow, be teachable today. (p147 Maxwell)

a Dave thought...
I found the debate fascinating last night between Howard & Rudd with the concept of making this public prime time viewing an interesting campaign strategy. Channel Nine opted for a "worm" reaction — 65 per cent of voters who participated scored the debate for Mr Rudd, 29 per cent for Mr Howard. In Mr Howard's favour however is the fact he has lost every public debate on record but still wins the elections.
So how important is it to think quick as a leader and have the right phrases and language to wow your audience? I say it is a good show stopper but the best leaders don't rely on it. I liken it to the church with a preacher who is fantastic for their hour in the spotlight on Sunday but overall is an average leader for the other 167 hours in the week.
So do we follow people who are quick thinking, good looking, and stage dazzling or do we back the leader who has produced fruit, exhibits character and develops a strategy that works when they are off the stage as well as on it?

Just a thought.

Abortions decreasing

a Jesus thought...
He who believes and is baptised will be saved. (Mark 16:16)

a Godly thought...
Wesley calls for preaching of Christ in all his offices - that is, as Prophet, Priest and King. (p156 Webb)

a leading thought...
You've got to love your people more than your position. (p133 Maxwell)

a Dave thought...
From today's Age newspaper...
FEWER teenagers are seeking abortions, and the Federal Government's baby bonus may well be playing a part in encouraging some young women to keep their children.
Figures obtained by The Sunday Age under freedom of information show that in 2005-06, 850 terminations were performed on women aged under 20 in public hospitals, down from 924 the previous year and 1010 in 2003-04.
A similar trend is evident in private hospitals. Victoria recorded 1724 teenage abortions in 2005-06, down from 1835 the year before and 1845 reported in 2003-04.
Over that period, Department of Human Services figures show that teenage births increased in Victoria from 1816 in 2003 to 1931 last year. However, the overall proportion of teenagers giving birth stayed the same, despite the drop in abortions.
Doctors cite better use of contraception and improved sex education, but there is growing speculation that the Government's $4000 bonus could be a factor in encouraging teenagers to continue with pregnancies.
The figures have been released as the Victorian Law Reform Commission investigates how to remove abortion from the Crimes Act, a move backed by Premier John Brumby and Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu.
The director of obstetrics at Monash Medical Centre, Euan Wallace, told The Sunday Age that "financial incentives" may be influencing some women's decisions about termination.
"There may well be some women in the past who would have chosen to terminate their pregnancy who might now continue the pregnancy because of financial incentives," he said.
But Professor Wallace said Australia's overall abortion rate remained "woeful".
"If you look at some European countries, Holland for example, they have an abortion rate much lower than ours, which goes to their sex education."
More user-friendly contraception, such as the implanted version of the pill, Implanon, and the morning-after pill, had reduced the rate of teenage abortions, said Mark Jones, the medical director of the Women's Clinic on Richmond Hill. "Maybe Mr Howard's X amount of dollars with the baby bonus has helped, too," he said.
The baby bonus is a one-off payment of $4187 for each child. It will rise to $5000 next year.
The new Victorian figures show that women in their early 20s were most likely to have an abortion, with 5030 terminations in public and private hospitals in 2005-06. But while the focus has long been on young women seeking abortions, Dr Jones said many of his patients were older women who felt their families were already complete.
The figures show Victoria's overall abortion rate has remained steady.
In 2005-06, there were 18,269 terminations in public and private hospitals compared to 18,514 in 2002-03.
Professor Julie Quinlivan, dean of medicine at Notre Dame University Australia and an expert on teenage pregnancy, said teen abortions had steadily decreased over the past 30 years.
"I do think there is some progress in teenagers being aware about taking precautions."

Just a thought.