Innovation is the lifeblood of an organization. Knowing how to lead and work with creative people requires knowledge and action that often goes against the typical organizational structure. Protect unusual people from bureaucracy and legalism typical of organizations.

A team of giants needs giant pitchers who throw good ideas but every pitcher needs an outstanding catcher. Without giant catchers, the ideas of the giant pitchers may eventually disappear.

Understanding the diversity of our gifts enables us to begin taking the crucial step of trusting each other.

A short term view will lead to a partial and perhaps twisted view of the whole picture. A crucial element may be missing. We may not be running the entire race. A friend of mine described a colleague as great at running the "ninety-five yard dash." That is a distinction I can do without. Lacking the last five yards makes the first ninety-five pointless. In fact, serious runners thing of it as a 110 yard dash so that no one will best them in the last few yards. You've got to think beyond the whole.

Change without continuity is chaos. Continuity without change is sloth-and very risky.

We can teach ourselves to see things the way they ARE. Only with vision can we begin to see things the way they CAN BE.

When trust permeates a ministry, great things are possible, not the least of which is an opportunity to reach the ministry's potential.