The Hawthorne Effect

 Too often we overreact and overcorrect where people have been harmed and received unjust treatment. So I want to share 6 warnings against centering the ministry of the church on exposing and recovering from to the various types of abuse that happen in marriages, families, churches and workplaces and the dangers that this could pose to the worldwide mission of the church as a whole. I've been hesitant to share this video for quite a while, but maybe it can help us to avoid overreactions and overcorrections and keep the church a place to heal but also a place to go forward in the will of God, according to the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20.  Definitely I don't want to discourage anyone from seeking and finding help from an abusive situation. And definitely I want our churches to speak out against anger, falsehood, spiritual manipulation and violence. Even more, I want anyone who needs to speak about his or her experience to find others who will hear with compassion. Yet I...

 Isn't it amazing how much we describe each other as amazing? In this video, I go over how I think that can be erring on the side of too much of a compliment, and the other extreme is just as bad. I also quote Jordan Peterson, to support how this can be a stumblingblock for us. Scripture verses I refer to include Ephesians 4:15-16 and Ephesians 4:25.  #amazing #everyoneisawesome #everyoneisamazing #hype #compliments #complimentingothers #realistic #realism #truthfulliving #tellingthetruth #honestfeedback 

 Kathleen Dollard, one of my favorite authors on software development, once made the remark that a lack of experience is holding our profession back. Over the years I’ve spent in software development, I’ve found substantial reason to agree. Here’s what I see as some of the obstacles to gaining a sound reservoir of experience in a software development organization. • The loss of experienced developers and architects from software development: Experienced developers and architects may go out the back door and take their experience with them. • Micromanagement by technically atrophied management: A number of times experienced developers go into management in software development organizations. Usually, their technical skills quickly atrophy, and they do not keep up with current software development processes. They may continue to give directions, but their directions make less and less sense because of the growing divergence between their own base of experience and current and appropr...

  Does God care when arrogant elitist families commit white collar crime in a sleazy land grab scheme? In this video, the answer is a resounding yes. This video covers Micah 2:1-13, which is a kind of a protest song which mocks those elitists and their shills and toadies, predicts their comeuppance (which really happened!) and ends on a strong, final, unexpected note of hope! In the beginning of this video I refer to the 1960s protest song known by Coven One Tin Soldier. Here's a link to the whole song if you want to review it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKx0tdlxMfY Please click 'Like' and subscribe to my channel for more! I intend eventually on going through the entire book of Micah in a series of videos. And please also check out my channel for other videos which might interest you or you might find helpful. #landgrab #landgrabbing #landgrabbers #micah #prophetmicah #bookofmicah #jesuschrist #bible #oldtestament #godofjustice #godcares #godisjust #elitism #lawfare...

 Are you an adult who has found that your IQ is in the gifted range? Whether you're seeking to live as a adult after having gone through a gifted educational program, or you've discovered as an adult that you are high IQ, these books are for you.  #gifted #giftedandtalented #giftedadult #gt #highiq #bookrecommendations #recommendedreads #recommendedbooks #recommendedbook

This is a short video where I share the challenge that Jesus gives for those who may be a seeker, a skeptic or an undecided about him. In this video, I refer to John 7:14-17. Here's where to find it ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207%3A14-17&version=ESV In the video I also refer to Rebecca Manley Pippert -- Becky Pippert, as I call her in the video. Here is her website ► https://www.beckypippert.org/ #seekers #jesuschrist #jessus #jesus #jesussaves #skeptic #skeptical #skepticism #seekersofknowledge #undecided

Some time ago I went through the book Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee and Resonant Leadership by Richard Boyatzis and Annie McKee. In the fall of 1995 I went through the Managerial Assessment and Development course at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, and there is some material from that course mirrored in Primal Leadership. In Primal Leadership , the authors distinguish between resonant leadership and dissonant leadership, and explain the following leadership styles: • Visionary (Resonant): Guiding people by and toward shared dreams. • Coaching (Resonant): Connects a person to the organization by linking their strengths, weaknesses and personal goals to the long term goals of the organization. • Affiliative (Resonant): Connects people through emotional ties and shared concern for each other. • Democratic (Resonant): Connecting people to the organization by l...

 How do you solve a problem like old King Saul? Someone who is stalking you and seeking to crush you? In this video we explore some parts of the Old Testament, but the answer for people nowadays is in the New Testament! At some point, people in our churches need to shake their heads, open their eyes and see that there's no reason in the New Testament why anyone in our churches needs to be on the run from someone like Saul -- the original spiritual abuser -- in their churches.  Additional note: compare the behavior of Saul in I Samuel to that Paul sets out for Christians in Titus 3:1-2 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus%203%3A1-2&version=ESV . Saul's behavior toward David is much more like the behavior Paul describes in Titus 3:3 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=titus%203%3A3&version=ESV . So as I say in the video, no one in our churches should be behaving like Saul toward another believer without correction and church discipline. Thi...

 Is there nepotism in choosing pastors and leaders in our churches? Is there cronyism also -- unfair and unethical alliances among pastors -- as well? Are there pastors who try to get family members into ministry when they lead unrighteous lives?  This is something that I heard about years ago. Some of my Pentecostal friends mentioned "the sons of Eli" from time to time when talking about certain people in ministry. This was a hard video to make, but some may need to hear and consider this.  Here are the passages which I mention in this video. Eventually I hope to have a longer, more detailed message on I Samuel 2:12 -36. ★ Ephesians 4:11 -12 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204%3A11-12&version=ESV ★ I Timothy 6:5 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Timothy%206&version=ESV ★ I Samuel 2:12 -36 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Samuel%202%3A12-36&version=ESV #jesuschrist #nepotism #nepobaby #cronyis...

 What's one book that Christians should regularly read and then pick up and re-read? I don't mean that Bible -- that's the book that we should never put down! In this video I tell you a little about this book and where to find it.  #bookrecommendations #christianbookrecommendations #christianbooks #christianliterature #greatchristianliterature #greatenglishliterature #englishliterature

  I've noticed a lot of content on YouTube which deals with the idea of a sigma male. So as a Christian I asked myself, "Can a Christian man be a sigma male?" I put my thoughts on that in this video. In this video I refer to Matthew 7:24 -27. Here's where to find that if you want to look it over for yourself ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207%3A24-27&version=ESV #men #masculinity #sigma #sigmamaletraits #sigmamale #jesuschrist #bible #christianmen #menandmasculinity #stoicmindset #stoicman

  Does the situation where you're leaving or left long ago leave you with anxiety about your current or future employment? Or does it leave you with wondering if someone tries to follow you even into a church with a narrative of your sins, faults and failures? Some people, perhaps even previous managers, supervisors, church leaders and even pastors may decide that they're not done with you even when you choose to leave or may even have left long ago. In this video I share some descriptions of these situations and some ideas on how to preserve your employment and future reputation in case someone tries to send a malicious narrative along somehow to follow you wherever you may go. I don't see anyone who discusses spiritual abuse so far mentioning these possibilities and how to protect yourself in accord with scriptural wisdom, consideration, love, and truthfulness. Does the situation where you're leaving or left long ago leave you with anxiety about your current or futur...

  In this brief video I go over a situation in my life where I saw God leading me to better situations away from conflict and rage from others. Is there a place out there where you might find yourself better flourishing in the will of God? Let's explore it together! In the video I refer to Genesis 26:17 -22/. Here's where you can read it for yourself ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2026%3A17-22&version=ESV DISCLAIMER: This video is educational and not intended to substitute for any legal, psychiatric or psychological advice or treatment. Please consult with a qualified professional in your area if you need legal, psychiatric or psychological advice or treatment. Professional qualifications are necessary for a clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder #jesuschrist #escapefromabuse #escapingthematrix #findinggodswisdom #findinggodswill #godsguidance #godsguide

 William Ury, Getting Past No: Negotiating Your Way from Confrontation to Cooperation. New York: Bantam Books, 1993. Summary: Negotiation, whether informal or formal, can be tough. There are primarily five real world barriers to cooperation: · Your own reaction to attack and attempts at exploitation. · The other side’s anger, hostility, fear and distrust. · The other side’s rigid adherence to their position. · The other side’s unwillingness to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. · The other side’s determination to win as a demonstration of power. The strategy to break through these barriers are these five steps: · Go to the Balcony. · Step to their side. · Reframe. · Build them a golden bridge. · Use power to educate. Preparation for a negotiating situation is highly urged, and concentrates on thinking through the four major points from the previous book, Getting to Yes, in regard to oneself and the other parties involved in the negotiation. GO TO THE BALCONY. The natural reac...

 Roger Fisher, William Ury and Bruce Patton, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books, New York 1991. Summary: Principled negotiation is the central theme, where different parties work toward a common agreement based upon common principles, as opposed to positional negotiation, where different parties try to reconcile their different positions. Principled negotiation is deemed superior to positional negotiation in producing wise agreements, in efficiency at arriving over conclusions, and in preserving and improving ongoing relationships. Principled negotiation is based upon four major points: · People: separate the people from the problem. · Interests: focus on interests, not positions. · Options: generate a variety of possibilities before deciding what to do. · Criteria: insist that the result be based on some objective standard. It is also not simply ‘deal making,’ where both sides can become ‘partners in crime’, rather than working out decisions and...

 Roger Fisher and Alan Sharp, Getting It Done: How to Lead When You’re NOT in Charge. HarperCollins Publishers, New York 1999. Summary: The goal of this book is to define ways to produce high quality results through collaboration by lateral leadership. Lateral leadership is not guiding by superior authority but rather is inviting colleagues to work with you to solve problems. The primary guidelines are handled under a three step method to improve oneself first and then to guide others to change: · Organize and sharpen your personal skills at getting things done by yourself. · Understand clearly your strategic goal of getting things done with others. · Develop some tactics of participatory leadership. DEVELOP PURPOSE. · Sharpen your purpose: develop a purpose that motivates and guides you, in terms of results to be achieved. Formulate immediate objectives, mid range goals and a long term vision. · Everyone helps formulate a set of results to achieve together. · Lead in improving set...

Lessons in Building Unconditionally Constructive Working Relationships Roger Fisher and Scott Brown, Getting Together: Building Relationships As We Negotiate. New York: Penguin Books, 1989. Summary: In working relations and human relations in general there is considerable confusion as to what constitutes a good relationship in practical terms. Too often a good working relationship is considered in terms of agreement, approval or having shared values instead of good substantive outcomes that leave the concerned parties emotionally at ease and where differences have been effectively dealt with. Relationship is a process itself separate from its outcomes, and rather is to be pursued on its own merits. As a process, it is possible to implement a definite strategy to foster good working relationships. The definition of the strategy itself is so concise and striking, it bears full citation: An Unconditionally Constructive Strategy Do only those things that are both good for the relations...

 Most of what I put down in my previous post, Part I: How to Make a Consulting Gig Mutually Effective and Rewarding, had to do with defining the assignment and preparing for the new consultant. Here are some more suggestions that I have to make. Make Sure That All Prospective Interviewers Are Prepared. • Interviewers need to have a current copy of the consultant’s resume. When I’m interviewed about a prospective assignment, I usually have additional copies with my business card and contact information. It’s best to give any prospective interviewers a copy of the resume far enough in advance to go over and assess the fit of the consultant to the assignment. • Interviewers need to have a current job description for the assignment. The assignment is usually important enough and costly enough to write down a list of what is relevant to the assignment. • Interviewers need to know what skills and experience are relevant to the assignment. This simply comes down to what parts of the job d...

 Do you want to be healed and get beyond your past? Do you want to be able to put your suffering and trauma behind you when you are ready? In this video I share a little bit about my perspective on transcending the difficulties and suffering of the past.  ★ Hebrews 12:12-13 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012%3A12-13&version=ESV #healingjourney #overcomingyourpast #transformation #transcendingyourpast #thriving #thrivingnotsurviving #thrivingnotjustsurviving

 A young lady once asked a question of Charlie Kirk on Christians burning the books of Sappho. But did that really happen? Charlie honestly admitted that he didn't know about Sappho, so I'm taking up the question here.  Wikipedia article on Sappho: ► https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sappho What happened to the works of Sappho is also mentioned here ► https://web.archive.org/web/20160622171236/http://www.newyorker.com:80/magazine/2015/03/16/girl-interrupted Here are the scriptures which I mention in the video: ★ Acts 19:18-19 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019%3A18-19&version=ESV ★ Jeremiah 36:1-32 ► https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2036&version=ESV #charliekirk #sappho #tpusa #bookburning #difficultquestions

Before I retired, I had done consulting / contracting for a number of years, and I’ve worked with a few companies and managers. Here are some pointers on how to get the most of a **highly skilled** consultant / contractor like myself. 1. Clearly define the purpose of the assignment beforehand, and inform the consultant / contractor. Is it: • Staff supplementation: a consultant taking over a role in the organizational chart normally assigned to a permanent employee who may be going on leave or another long term project. • A specific short or long term development or infrastructure project. 2. Define whether this engagement is considered to be a contract to hire position. Again, inform the contractor as to whether this is your expectation. Some consultants do not want to leave consulting, and the consultant should know whether this is a ‘try-buy’ opportunity. 3. Define the reporting structure of the consulting position, and the expended duties, procedures and time and status reporting me...

This was published previously in this blog back in 2010. I'm re-publishing it for any benefit which others can find from it I'm happily and honorably retired now.