Happy Canada Day to all Canadians!  To the rest of you, Happy July!  This post is the second post featuring a long list of different stories and links which I have not blogged individually about.  I had originally planned to do this weekly or bi-weekly, but at least at this point, the rhythm of this is monthly.  We’ll see if I can make this happen more often. Below you will find links under the categories of leadership, organizations and collaboration, church, and neighbor. Hopefully some of these will be enjoyable and good reads for you.  As always if you have recommendations for types of things to include in future links, by all means please just let me know with a comment.

Leadership

The Harvard Business Review (HBR) is a good source for reflections on facets of leadership and business (if not a preeminent source).  One of their more lengthy articles for the summer is a detailed article by Amy J. C. Cuddy, Matthew Kohut, and John Neffinger, on the need to connect in order to lead. I think the Connective Leadership Institute would enjoy (and agree) with this reflection as well.

Part of leadership is knowing how to spend your time. HBR offers a simple reflection based on Alexandra Samuel’s work, on making time for social media.

In creating relevance for people whom are a part of your work and mission, its important to work on enabling them to be engaged. Mary Hess offers in her blog a helpful resource on expanding your engagement ladder.

This could have been listed below under the neighbor section, but I also feel it fits well within leadership.  Recently Delta Airlines’ CEO showed what a true leader (and neighbor) looks like by giving up his seat for a mother in need.  Well done sir, and thank you for showing us such an authentic example of servant leadership.

Jessica Zisa from the Robert Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership offers a timely reminder that in order to serve and lead, one must listen effectively.

So often we hear about leaders needing to drill down on the importance of ethics.  Craig Dowden offers a helpful critique about the need first for empathy. 

I am a leader in part because of the education I have received, and the many gifts, sweat, tears, and passion of countless educators.  My hometown newspaper ran this story on this year’s retiring teachers, including the great Mr. Carlsen who was famous for always saying, “What a great day!”  No matter what happened the day before, each day is a gift.  As a leader, neighbor, and person, life has so much more meaning when we recognize this and remember that today is indeed a great day.  Thank you Mr. Carlsen for that lesson, and thank you to teachers everywhere for your passion and dedication.

Organizations and Collaboration

Seeing as I have been participating in a start-up organization this past year, I can attest that there have been opportunities that we made that we should have, as well as those that we should not have.  There are times when a start-up should “walk away” as Liz Elting writes for HBR.

Church

Bookgirl offered and pondered the wonderful and important question about what congregations are doing to include children in worship.  How does your congregation engage, include, and promote children in being part of worship?

Dr. Carl R. Trueman also reflected recently on worship.  He pondered what it means that today’s worship is so detached from death and tragedy, ending his reflection in that, that in itself is a tragedy.  What do you think?

Lutheran Services in America has released their spring edition of Caring Connections:  An Inter-Lutheran Journal for Practioners and Teachers of Pastoral Care and Counseling.  Check it out for some good articles on creating healthier leaders for the church, and how to hold each other accountable.

Neighbor

Prominent church leader and theologian Willie James Jennings explained why he was arrested this past month, in taking a stand for the neighbor.  Those who say there is a separation of religion and politics are denying themselves the point of the gospel.  Jesus spoke about money, the poor, the disenfranchised… etc., all the time.  (For those of you in the mainline church following the revised common lectionary, this year’s gospel tour of Luke is a very good reminder of this.)

Dr. Kate Blanchard offers her explanation about the good news of authenticity. She even concludes by pondering the importance of self-authenticity as it relates to the common good.

Vocation

Occasionally some of my interests not particularly covered by this blog intertwine.  Bill Plaschke is a well known sports writer for the Los Angeles Times and he offers this wonderful story about one man who had a passion and calling and served that calling till the end.  If you have time, you really will enjoy this read.

That about wraps up this edition of the Links.  I hope you enjoyed it, and that you are enjoying this blog.  As always feedback, suggestions, and ideas for future posts and things to consider and include are always welcome.  I love conversation, and welcome it here.