Leadership in Small Groups

Okay, I have to admit, this post started as a rant awhile ago but I decided this frustration was an opportunity to think about leadership and what makes a good leader of a small group. I'm part of several small groups and I lead a small group or two, so this is something I'm very interested in and pay attention to.

What makes a good leader--specifically of small groups?

• A listener. Being tuned in to your group's ideas is smart. Often a synergy will form--maybe not with the group as a whole if it's larger, but often with a core group of people, where their ideas feed each other's and the compilation is better than just one person's ideas. There needs to be a leader who will listen to the ideas, suggestions, and preferences, put them together, boil them down and say "Okay, this is what we're going to do.".
• Accepting the buck. A leader, even of a small group must be able to say, "This is where the buck stops."
• A decision maker. If no decision is made, the group stalls out. If there are five variations of the decision, the group and its efforts are splintered.
• A clear leader or nucleus lead team. Otherwise there's confusion and distrust. If the nucleus lead team isn't 100% on the same page, friction and division will develop almost immediately. There is much to be said for united fronts.

These things seem to be necessary even in small groups where things are run, for the most part, democratically. Often the person the group members look to is the founder, the person whose idea it was to start the group. When they don't step to the plate the group often stalls, stagnates, or splinters. It's not pretty to see happen and isn't fun to be a part of.

So tell me, what are some other things you've noticed a leader of small groups needs to do?

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B is for Book Love

Welcome to this week's a2z: Take 2 and

the letter B.

What can I say, B is Books and here are some GREAT Books we've been reading recently here at my house...

Cooking the Books

by Bonnie Calhoun

After her mother dies from a heart attack, Sloane Templeton goes from Cyber Crimes Unit to bookstore owner before she can blink. She also "inherits" a half-batty store manager; a strange bunch of little old people from the neighborhood who meet at the store once a week, but never read books, called the Granny Oakleys Book Club; and Aunt Verline, who fancies herself an Iron Chef when in reality you need a cast iron stomach to partake of her culinary disasters. And with a group like this you should never ask, “What else can go wrong?”

A lot! Sloane begins to receive cyber threats. While Sloane uses her computer forensic skills to uncover the source of the threats, it is discovered someone is out to kill her. Can her life get more crazy?

Patty says: I totally loved Cooking the Books. Bonnie's sense of humor cracks me up and I could not keep from laughing. I planned to read a little every day so I didn't fall behind with everything else in life, but that idea didn't last long before I settled in for duration. So glad I did. I needed the laughs and Cooking the Books was a recipe for fun. Don't miss this one!!

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Where Wildflowers Bloom

Book 1 in the new Sisters at Heart series by Ann Shorey

How far will she go to follow her dreams?

The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg--as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family's mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

Esther says: I really like Where the Wildflowers Bloom!! Curt and Faith drew me in from the start and made me wish I could be there and meet them.

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When the Smoke Clears

by Lynette Eason

As a member of the North Cascades Smokejumpers, Alexia Allen always takes care of the equipment that keeps her safe. So when she nearly dies in a fire due to equipment failure, she knows something is up. Ordered to take time off while the investigation continues, Alexia makes a last-minute decision to recuperate at her mother's home and attend her high school reunion. Yet trouble seems to be following her, and within hours of arriving home she's involved with murder, arson--and a handsome detective. But the conflicts ahead are nothing compared to the ghosts of her past. As she strives to remember and forgive her family history, she must also decide if the secret she's been guarding for the last ten years must finally come to light.

Chock-full of the suspense and romantic tension readers have come to expect from Lynette Eason, When the Smoke Clears is the explosive first book in the Deadly Reunions series.

Abby says: When The Smoke Clears is definitely a book that keeps you on your toes! I've been reading as fast as I could to find out what happens next.

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And, next on my list to read...

The Next Target

by Nikki Arana
Would You Share Your Faith If It Would Cost You Your Life?

It only took one bullet. Austia's friend and student fell dead. And with a glimpse of a newspaper headline, the young and recently widowed Austia knows more about what happened than the police. From that fatal night, Austia's secret outreach to the U.S. Muslim community-in the guise of English language classes-becomes a target. Local Muslim extremists set their sights on ending her ministry and even her life. And the women she ministers to will be next.

A thick web of deceit closes in around Austia, and her circle of friends becomes smaller by the day, even as she finally opens herself to the idea of falling in love again. But who can she trust? Facing a spiritual battle that proves more treacherous than it at first seemed, Austia's convictions are tested to their limits and her heart becomes primed for breaking. She must ask herself: how much she will risk to stay true to her herself, her faith, and to the lives of the women she serves?

Patty says: I've not read The Next Target yet, but I've been anxious to read it since Niki told me about it many months ago, when she was working on it. Can't wait to jump into in, even though it's not my usual reading fare. The girls and I might wrestle over who gets to read this one first!

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So tell me, read any good books lately?

If you're joining us for the a2z: Take 2 meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter B, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Along the Way

Welcome to a Take Flight idea challenge! This week's idea jump starter was to Stop, Look, and Listen.

Stop and take a picture (or 10) of something interesting or curious and blog about it.

We take several back roads on our way to church and there's a few interesting places, and one I've wanted to stop at. So, I went to "the cat house" and took some pictures...

Oops. Okay, so that picture is at the four way just before the Cat House, but still a shot I've wanted to take for years. LoL An empty barn or garage. The house is long gone.

Here's across the road from the Cat House...

A home with an old attached garage with the pick up still there. The door is ajar and it'd be so cool to tiptoe through the house. But I won't. Not only is it not our land but it's posted, No Trespassing. Bummer. I'll just have to use my imagination. hehe.

But this car is what I *really* set out to get a picture of. It just makes me smile.

Can you imagine the stories this car can tell? I want to know why it was parked at the edge of the yard and left. And when. And what was its last trip? So many stories, just sitting there...

In case you're wondering why I call it the Cat House--it's where all stray cats are welcome. This only shows three cats, but we suspect two dozen are in residence. The home owner is no longer there, but people faithfully come and feed the cats and make sure there's a cat house or two somewhere close by. There used to be a pair of peacocks, but I've not seen them for a couple years. They were gorgeous, but always startled me with their screech when I drove past.  They would perch on the peak of the small barn between the house and the car. Now it's just the cats and the car. This little place, off the beaten path, is a reminder to me that God takes care of His creatures, just like it says in Matthew 6:26... Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you lnot worth much more than they?

God takes care of all these cats, even after the home owner is no longer in residence. He will take care of His children!!

So tell me about a curious or interesting place near you...

If you're joining us for this episode of Take Flight, link up with us!!

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Heart Highways

In 2009 God blessed me with a dog I never thought I'd have and I named her Gracie because she's a tangible reminder of God's grace in my life. In the many months I've had her, she's provided comfort and reassurance of God's constant love, presence and purpose in my life and she's taught me many things. Like most dogs, Gracie is a creature of habit. Although not all of her habits are good, one of them is stellar. She watches over us and protects us with her big bark. Her consistency in this became crystal clear early one morning. There, across the road, was a path Gracie had worn through the snow with her constant trotting back and forth. That got me thinking about a verse I had read just moments before...

How blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
~Psalm 84:5

All of us have paths in our heart. Some of those paths might lead to a friend's house and sympathetic ear, or a family member that has always been a source of strength and comfort to us. Other paths might not end in such nice places. They might lead you straight to worry or depression or fear. The path you want to make into a highway is the path you take to the throne of God.

The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will also go.” ~Zechariah 8:21

Sometimes the landscape of my heart looks like my yard does after the kids have been outside to play in the snow. Tracks everywhere. There's no way I could follow their path after they've been outside playing for a few hours. That's not how I want my heart to be. That's not how I want my life to be either. I want those around me to be able to easily follow my path to a favorite place—the throne room of God.

That makes me wonder, have we traveled the path to God often enough to etch a path? On days when the going is rough and it's dark or foggy all around us, having a well beaten path to follow to God's throne room is a great help, especially when we're so exhausted it's hard to place one foot in front of the other. In fact, when we're that tired, a highway is what we really want. Smooth going and easy to follow.

Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths. ~Micah 4:2

Let's wear wide, smooth paths to God's presence by traveling there many times a day. We want our paths to be as easy to follow as Gracie's path through snow was.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1

If we want highways in our hearts then we need to consistently walk the same path. An occasional trip may leave enough footprints to see and follow but it will not wear a path.

Gracie's highway went to the far edge of the orchard, one of her favorite places to hang out, and it was a perfect example of how I want my heart to look.

I want a clearly defined path straight to the throne room of God. Don't you?

So tell me, how's your path looking? I'm gonna go work on mine... 

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My 12

Here's my list of things I'd like to do in 2012.  Not necessary, but some for fun, some for research for a historical project (which I consider very FUN!), some to learn and grow, and some just because...

1. I already posted my list of 9 writing craft books to read in '12. I want to add 3 books to that list and read 12 writing craft books in '12.
2. Do 12 short vlogs. *gulp*
3. Go out once a month (brrrrr) and snap pictures--not just 12 outings in March through October like I usually do. Why? To slow down and look for the beauty all around me on a regular basis, even if it's freezing out there.
4. Go somewhere scenic here in Southern Illinois that I've not been to before--there's so much here that I've never seen in the 20 years I've lived here.
5. Talk to 12 people about the history of this part of Southern Illinois--my older friends, museum personnel... 
6. Visit the local museum.
7. Visit the coal mining museum in town.
8. Visit the miners memorial in town.
9. Hunt down the old mine portals and take pictures. (Do you see the trend here? LoL)
10. Stop at the WF Lake and simply be still.
11. Go to R Lake and follow some of the paths.
12. Walk through the woods this spring.
    

I was asked why I'm doing this--well, it does seem kind of strange to me too, especially since I didn't set goals for 2012. LoL. But here's why I'm doing 12 in '12...
To get me out of my box. Some of these will get me out of my comfort zone and all of these will help keep me from stagnating. *shrug* And I love a challenge. ;-)

Some of those things listed are big--12 parts to them--some are small. None are necessary in the over-all picture of life, but things I'd love to do.

So tell me, what are some things you'd like to do this year? Just for the fun of it?

Are you posting a 12 in '12 list? Link up and we can encourage each other on and meet back here the 12th of each month for a progress report.

I'll see you on February 12th with pictures, reports, whatever. I'm excited about this and have slowly begun working on my list. Like, I went out earlier this week and took pictures of January! Woot! And I've been reading my January writing craft book. Woot! =)

See you next month!

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We're At it Again

Welcome to our first week of a2z: Take 2!

The letter A!

I'm so happy we're doing this meme again because I had a blast last time around. For those of you joining us, you can find more info here. We're thrilled to have you with us! The more the merrier! =)

So, I figure I need to start off this time through the Alphabet right. Right? That means it's confession time. LoL.

I am {mildly} Absent minded.

If you hear something that sounds like hyenas laughing, don't worry. It's just my friends laughing at the understatement. When my head is wrapped in an idea, I'm very absent minded and miss much of life around me. But I don't mind them laughing. See, they know me well enough to know that if I'm immersed in brainstorming, I probably need to be reminded about a few things and they're kind enough to remind me. That's what I call good friends!

Last week was an absent minded week as ideas flew fast and furious for not only 12 in '12 (want to join in some more fun? We're posting this month's 12 in '12 on Thursday! hehe) but also by Take Flight. It was a whirlwind, red letter week in the idea department. It was a fantastic week! =)

Aside from being absent minded, I'm diving into the book of Acts with our ladies Bible Study on Tuesday nights. It's my favorite night of the week because these ladies are awesome. They've pushed me to learn and grow and they PRAY. Love those girls! =)

So tell me, what's new in your lives? I've missed you guys!

If you're joining us for the a2z: Take 2 meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter A, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget here.

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Stop, Look and Listen

Now, for the first Take Flight challenge, or second if you vlogged...

Stop and take a picture (or 10) of something interesting or curious and blog about it.

• Something interesting you pass on a regular basis.
• Something you've always wanted to stop and look at but never take the time to.
• Something that makes you smile.
• Anything that catches your attention.

All too often we're in a hurry getting from point A to point B and we don't slow down and savor what is around us.  I know it's winter out there, but bundle up and be brave. (And if it's warm where you are, bottle some warmth and send it to those up North. *wink)

This week, find something to savor, snap some pictures of it and tell us about it. 

• Why did it capture your attention? 
• Do you see it all the time? 
• Why does it make you smile?
• What did you do to get the picture?
• Or let the picture talk for itself.

Let's meet back here next Monday, January 16th, and link up.

Remember, you can post ANYtime, even a long time from now, I'll just post the linky and my post on the 16th.

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