The church must change in order to grow.

 

Any business in today's fast-moving environment that is looking for the pace of change to slow is likely to be disappointed. Businesses should embrace change. Change is important for any organization because, without change, businesses will lose their competitive edge and fail to meet the needs of what most hope to be a growing base of loyal customers.

Companies do not have the luxury of time when it comes to adapting to changing conditions. To survive, some companies have had to dramatically remake themselves. Leaders of companies that have demonstrated an affinity for adapting tend to share certain characteristics: ability to recognize the opportunity in a challenge; a focus on the right priorities; commitment to clear, candid communication; accountability and ability to promote creativity (characteristics of Pope Francis).

There are numerous cautionary tales about companies that were once market leaders but have faltered or outright failed due to an inability to recognize the need to change and act upon it (the church).

When executives maintain a steady focus on central priorities, it serves as a compass and helps to ensure the organization will not get sidetracked. Corporate leaders need to ask themselves, “Why are we here (Pope Francis has)?”

Leaders of companies at a crossroads often say they need a “change agent,” someone who will radically alter the organization’s course for the better. However, when actually presented with a change agent, many will opt for the tried-and-true choice, not the revolutionary (describes some cardinals and bishops).

It’s nearly impossible to adapt to change if there is not universal understanding about what that change is and what the organization is going to do about it. Leaders need to deliver a single, clear and consistent message about their goals and how the entire team can accomplish those goals (Pope Francis has).

Soliciting feedback from the full range of stakeholders and doing so in a relaxed setting when possible helps inspire honest, candid feedback (Pope Francis has).

If the above is true of business why is it not true of church denominations? Believe me when I say it is (both have a product to sell)!

Too many of our leaders in religious organizations have the same mindset as an employee at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C., in 1833. He wrote the following letter:

“Dear Sir:
Because everything that can be invented has already been invented, it is inevitable that this office should go out of business. Inasmuch as I shall soon lose my position, I hereby resign to look for work elsewhere.

Sincerely,”

Up to that point, less than 500 patents had been applied for in the United States; but by the time World War I was over, more than 60,000 patents had been issued. Today the number runs in the millions.

The man lacked vision. We read something like this and think, “Wow, what an idiot.”  How could someone look into the future and believe that there is nothing for them. This guy did not even give himself a chance to wait to see what happens.  He just gave up (some within the church have given up on discipleship and just wait for new babies and baptism to grow the church).

We cannot plan for every outcome.  That is why we need a vision.  Not some fortune teller vision, but a Holy Spirit vision… a statement of vision.  Clergy and churches talk about vision all the time. Often, churches think that coming up with a vision is the pastor’s job. However, that is the wrong approach. The top down way of crafting a vision leaves everyone else behind (Pope Francis is trying to include everyone).

In the Old Testament Jeremiah is crafting a vision but it is not a pretty sight. God’s people have turned away from God, ignored his laws, and accepted foreign influences. Jeremiah foretells of a bleak world of suffering. Despite this, Jeremiah provides an out, a vision for Israel to regain its identity. The first thing that Jeremiah did was survey the land.

Often, when we have an idea, thought, or goal in mind we want to run with we do not take time to sit down, think, and reflect.  However, this is the first step of the visioning process (I think Pope Francis was thinking about the changes needed in the church years before becoming Pope).  In order to lead God’s people, Jeremiah had to survey the situation: What’s going on?  Where have we been?  Where are we now?  Where are we going (Pope Francis has done this)?

Church leaders should learn the process for crafting a vision and yes it would be wise to turn to the business world in doing so. A vision helps focus people through good times and bad.  A vision enables people accomplish goals.  A vision is like a funnel in which everything we do is poured down into one focus point.

Do you have a vision for your church (Pope Francis does)?  Have you thought about the past, present, and future of your church (Pope Francis has)?  Who did you include in your vision? POPE FRANCIS has a vision for the Catholic Church and Catholics would be wise to listen to him and support him.

Needless to say there are some within the church hierarchy that do not want change and they are not raising their glasses to toast what Pope Francis has to say. To be honest they will do all they can to sabotage what Pope Francis is trying to achieve. Some of these same men who a few years ago were bragging how the Holy Spirit influenced their vote for Francis to become Pope are now not willing to support him.

Jesus and Pope Francis are more interested in embracing lepers and every kind of outcast than observing the ritual purity and prudent deliberations of the doctors of the law. Some within the hierarchy of the church have gone so long without getting their hands dirty that the thought of becoming a “servant” is beyond their comprehension.

Pope Francis wants to restore everyone to God's family and that is scandalous to some people, but, is that not what Jesus wants. Pope Francis wants to reconcile all variety of Catholic "outcasts" with their church, most especially those currently excluded from its sacramental life and that is scandalous to some people, but would Jesus want anything different.

Pope Francis has made clear the program of his pontificate before the People of God and, indeed, all people of good will. The hierarchy of the church cannot pretend they do not understand it. Pope Francis has given a fresh blueprint for church reform and called for a renewal of the far-sighted, yet unrealized, vision of the Second Vatican Council that some within the church have cleverly managed not to enforce.

In my opinion those who say they disagree with the prophetic words of the first religious order pope in nearly 170 years are more honest than those who say they do not understand him or secretly try to sabotage his program of change. Pope Francis has made it clear what he believes -- that the Holy Spirit is pushing the church to be more inclusive, compassionate and outward-looking; that the Lord Jesus is calling it to be less inward-focused, legalistic and obsessed with the nonessential externals; and that "finding the right words" for our beliefs, our teachings, our disciplines -- is one of the great tasks the church's pastors and its people must discover in order to bring this into being.

It is up to the people of the Catholic Church to support the Pope and prevent our church from becoming a thing of the past. Some like going to a museum on Sunday, but I prefer to go to a celebration of forgiveness, mercy, grace, love, kindness, life and compassion every Sunday. Do you? Some may like the feeling of superiority that they can partake of all the sacraments of the church and others cannot, but I prefer that everyone can experience all that God has to offer. Do You?

I stand with Pope Francis to do away with archaic man-made rules that have no place in today’s society and I pray you do to.

 

 

Will you again believe the lies of politicians and once again be disappointed?

The next elections are not that far away.  It is not too early to start listening closely to what the candidates are saying and if they have a record to investigate what they have done in the past. Regardless of their party affiliation all politicians make big promises.

How many of these promises are just bold-faced lies that you have heard many times in the past?  It is unfortunate that voters are more likely to believe statements made by their own political party, even if they’re totally false. Politicians make big promises they know they cannot keep because the lies work. They work because they say what people want to hear and not what is realistic. They give hopeless people false hope!  They feed the greed of greedy people.   If they make promises their audience wants to hear they can secure campaign money and win more votes. Voters have short memories if they are elected and fail to keep their promises people forget. President Obama proved that. He failed to keep his promises in his first term and was reelected.

Some politicians have learnt the art of telling half-truths or they have become experts at making excuses and blaming others. Again President Obama is a perfect example of that.

We need to learn the political language:

When a politician says “I will try” it does not mean he or she will. You can say you’ll “try to do the dishes,” even if you never get off the couch, technically you are not lying. “Try” is a great word for taking a stance that doesn’t actually require the politician to carry out any action.

When politicians are hot on the campaign trail, they’re willing to say just about anything to get votes. The words “I am committed to” flow freely. Committed to end poverty, increase jobs, improve education, end corruption, etc. If they say I promise to and don’t voters get turned off, but saying committed to does not sound like a promise to voters.

When a politician says, “The people are my biggest priority “you should start doubting all of his or her words. A politician’s biggest priority is to make sure they don’t turn off voters prior to the election. If that means making cuts, raising taxes, or prioritizing the demands of corporate lobbyists over your welfare once elected, they’ll do it. They will do it because there is always another election that they want to win.

Once a politician gets to the primaries or takes office, they’re going to have to make compromises, even if it means going back on their original agenda. They know that! When a candidate tells you, “I will not compromise on my political or moral views” take that to mean he or she is lying to you.

When a politician plants an idea in your mind, even a false one, you don’t forget it. That’s why we still joke that Al Gore thinks he invented the Internet, rumors circulated that Bill Clinton and John McCain fathered illegitimate children, and 20% of Americans don’t think Obama is a U.S. citizen. Politicians are well aware of this trick, and they use it to smear their opponents. Even if their claims are completely false they do not care. They have one goal win at all cost. Also know that the bias media does the same thing. Look at what the media is doing to Dr. Carson in the U.S.

You need to know that when politicians deny allegations made against them their denial could be a lie. Bill Clinton lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky under oath.  Presidential candidate John Edwards continually denied having an extramarital affair. Then, in a 2008 when his political career was over he admitted to the affair. He lied for two more years that he had fathered a child during that relationship. Nixon said, “I’m not a crook.” Turns out, he was. In 1974, Nixon was ordered to repay over $400,000 in back taxes to the IRS for making incorrect deductions.

I said earlier politicians are good at blaming others well consider the following: Anthony Weiner claimed in an interview that his “system was hacked.” He only admitted the scandalous photos were him once the women started coming out and telling their stories.  Politician Michael Grimm when he was under federal investigation for two years for allegations related to campaign finance fraud claimed government prosecutors had a “politically driven vendetta against” him. He eventually pleaded guilty.

Politicians are experienced wordsmiths. They spend a lot of time raising campaign money, getting votes, and striking deals. They know how to spin a story to get what they want, and they have the resources they need to cover up past offenses. When their office and reputation is at stake, the ends sometimes justify the means.

t is important that the citizens remember if the people are corrupt their politicians will be corrupt. Corrupt people elect corrupt politicians. We should examine ourselves before we vote and make sure our own selfish greed and immorality are not influencing our vote. The needs of the nation as a whole are more important than our personal needs.