http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/ Connecting you with us! en-us Nucleus CMS v3.23 Β© Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/ http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=45 The domain has also moved to:
blog.rachelandjuan.com]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=45 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 11:35:17 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=44 African girlBlack Flight is changing the way our cities look!
This has serious implications for those of us with Here's Life Inner City, or for that matter, any inner city organization. I would hope that we take notice, because not only will it affect who we do ministry with, but also where we do it. If we stay in the cities, then we will be working with a largely upper middle class white post-modern. If we wish to remain working with the poor, we might find ourselves in the suburbs.

Another interesting speculation is that with some western rural towns having an unemplyment rate close to 2% there might be a slow, but steady shift away from poverty caused by unemployment. What then?
]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=44 Mon, 27 Aug 2007 15:18:00 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=43
Lately, it seems as if I'm on information overload and my brain needs to work double time to keep up. I find myself contemplating parapsychology and wondering if kick starting a lucid dream is biblical. When I go to the library and browse amongst the titles, I find that my minute has turned to 10 and my 10 to 30. If only I could process faster... Instead, I lay awake before I go to bed with my mind racing, wondering when it will all end so that I can simply go to sleep.

Is it good to be so mentally vibrant? Or is it just a way to foster what our society sees as a high level of ADHD? Either way, I find myself in need of self-control and discipline as I choose what to focus on in any given second. For I can think of great things or lousy ones, busy ones or contemplative ones, or even shut it all out and be still.]]> Culture http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=43 Fri, 24 Aug 2007 22:57:07 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=42
The basics of the argument are that income tax is one of the lesser sources of income for the government and would only reduce the governments ability to spend to about the year 2000's levels. Then with who knows how much cash in the hands of people, untold jobs would be created and people's earnings would skyrocket. What do you think? Workable or not so much?]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=42 Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:08:37 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=40 There is so much wrong with my body!

It should be obvious, but thanks to my own sin, and perhaps that of Adam as well... I'm dying. I don't like it, and I wish it would go away. But there's no denying that my life is limited and death will claim me. Luckily I know I'm going to heaven!

God promises...

However, God points out that someday I will be like Christ! I will have a new body. One that is not all messed up. I don't think it will be perfect in my way of thinking... Christ still had the holes in his hands and was hungry when He was resurrected. But it will be a body that lasts... beyond death. No decay, no failures.

I can't wait!]]> Juan - Devotion http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=40 Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:05:34 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=39
Is it lack of sleep? I'm jet-lagged from my trip to California and I got up extra early this morning for no good reason. Now I'm feeling like any amount of focus is a lot of hard work. My patience is also a bit threadbare.

Lesson to learn? Get more sleep!

God Bless!]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=39 Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:42:33 -0700 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=38
These are the things that seem to work pretty well that I would suggest if you find yourself in my shoes.

1) A good Content Management System (CMS) can speed up your work greatly! I've written my own and used drupal extensively... I like both for different reasons, but if your looking for speed and robustness drupal is great!

2) Have the important content easily accessible on the front page. Either primary links or hot items. This is where people can get the meat of what your site is about. Everyone should be able to see the these and click them without any work!

3) People will come back once, and if they see no change, they won't come back. You need to keep adding content. A regularly updated poll works well! Also, any new stories or input work great! User generated posts are by far the most effective because then people can read others ideas.

4) Keep it short. People will generally skim the first few lines and then move on. Make your posts only a few lines. Or if you must make it longer, make dividers in bold so that people can find the part they do want to read.

Hope that helps!]]> Juan - Technology http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=38 Wed, 7 Feb 2007 10:36:37 -0800 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=37
Herzberg's Motivation-Hygiene Theory Implications

Satisfiers:
• Achievement - We need to show people we recruit that we are making forward process. The assignments we give when we delegate must have a definitive end and must accomplish something tangible. To help people be satisfied with their job we must recognize everything that's been accomplished regularly. This will help us move forward one job at a time, and help us feel like we are making tangible progress.
• Recognition - When we recruit we should recognize those who are doing a good job by saying why we are proud of them, this will set a standard which we can recognize them for later. When someone completes a delegated task, they should receive private and public recognition for the work they have done according to the job. To help satisfaction levels we should recognize people who do well. This will create role models that will guide us in the future.
• Work Itself - When we recruit for Here's Life we can stress that the work we do is fulfilling so that people will want to do it for God and themselves. I think it's important that everyone is involved with a tangible micro ministry so that they are in touch with how their work impacts people. Also, the macro should be tied to the micro so that those on the back end can still appreciate what their work is accomplishing. If people like their work, they will be motivated to stay and to excel.
• Responsibility - As an incentive for recruits and new staff, there should be a sense that they are given increased responsibility with time, or in other words, they won't be someone's lapdog for their entire career. When we delegate a task we can stress the receivers’ responsibility in completing it, and give them the room/space/trust to do it. To help staff feel satisfied, we should make sure that all our staff have their area where they make decisions and have authority to implement their own ideas. If we give people more responsibility we free up management to further the organization.
• Advancement - We need to let recruits know that there is a tangible way in which people can move forward in terms of status within the organization. There should be clear ways in which people can advance their career through the tasks we delegate to them. When people go through a review (and they should) part of that review should include opportunities for advancement. If people feel like they have more invested in the ministry and that there is a future for that investment they will be more likely to stay.


Dissatisfiers:
• Interpersonal Relationships - When we recruit we should be able to show the quality of our interpersonal relationships. When we delegate we need to balance not just the management of delegation but also build rapport in our relationships. To build general satisfaction we should continually work on our social relationships with those we work with. This would allow the workplace to become a place where people want to be and feel loved/accepted and feel like they belong.
• Policy and Administration - Recruiting should not focus on policy or should have minimal policy implications. As a delegator I want to give as much freedom and direction as possible while minimizing micromanaging. To increase satisfaction, there should be sensible policies that are not overbearing. If policies and admin are not overbearing, people will not feel suffocated or constricted as they work.
• Working Conditions - When we are recruiting we need to make sure we have a physical space available that is properly set up for new staff. When we delegate we should make sure that what we ask is reasonable and that the staff has all the resources they need to do their work. We should always be aware of our limitations and should not try to grow/work as an organization beyond what we can reasonably accommodate. If our working conditions are reasonable we will minimize stress, both physical and emotional.
• Technical Ability of Supervisor - When we recruit, people should be aware that they are coming under competent leadership. Unless they are coming on as a supervisor, they should know that someone above them is technically able to answer their questions. This goes beyond just computers but can cover things like how to do Boxes of Love. Before a supervisor delegates a task he should make sure the task is reasonable in scope, and that the person being delegated to is up to the task. To help the office feel confident, all staff should be getting consistent training and development in all aspects of their job. If we are diligent in this, people will not be angry at management for mismanaging or in other words for being a "Dilbert"-like boss.
• Personal Life outside of work - We live in the greatest cities of America! There is a great life someone can have outside of work, and this is a great selling point of our ministry. Also, our teams if they consist of deep friendships are also a great draw. As we manage and give people things to do, we should make sure that they not only have the time and emotional energy to pursue things outside of work, but we should also be encouraging them to find ways to connect to people outside. Older staff that know the city and are well connected can help younger staff find place away from coworkers to get involved. If we do this, we will help people not get burned out.
]]> Juan - Devotion http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=37 Mon, 5 Feb 2007 13:29:46 -0800 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=36 null

You get up and say, wow it's hot today!]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=36 Thu, 1 Feb 2007 08:49:02 -0800 http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=29
We saw a good chunk of the support we needed come in, and we hope that we will gain the rest when we go to California in a few weeks. Thanks to all who made it possible!]]> Juan - General http://blogs.rachelandjuan.com/index.php?itemid=29 Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:46:00 -0800