Civics

Feb

2016

Gary’s Rules

Several years ago we started watching NCIS. It used to be a great show about the Naval Criminal Investigative Service before it got political. The characters are great and the story’s were great. I really liked all the characters but I loved Gibbs.

Gibbs is the leader of the team and is a seemingly heartless pragmatist. Until you get to know him. You find out quickly that he has a huge heart and lots of baggage. But is very good at his job and a great leader. Someone I would like to emulate in some ways, in others not so much. One of the mainstay of the show is Gibbs rules. He doesn’t write them down. He feels it’s his job to teach the rules and he expects everyone on the team to know them.

I started thinking. “what are my rules?” so I started a list and here they are, 30 of Gary’s rules:

Always default to relationship
Always assume the best in people
Don’t make arbitrary rules
Always give your people a “why”; or they will come up with their own and they will be wrong
Always give honor and respect; not always obedience
Never judge motives, only fruit
What you allow you promote
What you reward you get more of
Unity trumps disunity
Continually cast vision
Email is the lowest form of communication; texts are the next lowest
Vision that creates opportunity for others; will never lack the involvement of others
Sometimes your’re wrong; when you’re wrong apologize, it’s a sign of strength.
Direction comes before correction
Always over communicate
Don’t give too much attention to your biggest fans or your biggest critics
If you’re going to get into trouble anyway; get into trouble doing the right thing.
Be predictable; your team should always know how you will react
Training too close to the decision making process looks like lobbying.
Ignore the squeaky wheel
Ignore your weaknesses; hire or delegate to your weakness
The best time to remove a team member is before they’re on the team.
Always reward faithfulness over giftedness.
Never confuse familiarity with understanding
Focus on building big people not big organizations
Nothing grows without conflict
Consensus is the end of leadership
Be very careful when playing the “God” card
Take responsibility not blame
Always give credit, take blame

These are not all original. I’ve stolen most of them and have forgotten mostly where they came from so if you know the origin feel free to give credit in the comments.

I plan to do a series of blog posts expounding on these rules someday. Stay tuned.

What do you think?
What would you add?

Mar

2010

Frontier School of the Bible, Closure

Got this awhile ago and haven’t had time to post it. Here is the conclusion:

Dear Alumni and Friends of FSB,

In October of 2008, Frontier School of the Bible discovered that a state statute, designed to deal with diploma mills, inadvertently affected legitimate schools and led to all religious schools in Wyoming losing their religious exemption. The consequences of this action could have caused us to relocate to another state.

Some of the effects of that statute were negated by Frontier School of the Bible being granted a Leadership School exemption by the Department of Education. We appreciated their help with our dilemma. In order to deal with all of the unintended negative aspects of losing our religious exemption, Representative Ed Buchanan submitted House Bill 16 on behalf of Frontier School of the Bible and all other religious schools in Wyoming. In February, this bill was passed with nearly unanimous support by the Wyoming Legislature and signed by the Governor on March 3, 2010. The passing of this bill has restored our religious exemption!

The prayer support for this situation has been astounding and humbling. We clearly saw the hand of God work in numerous ways and many blessings came to Frontier in the midst of this situation. Every time we encountered difficult obstacles, God provided direction and assistance from wonderful people and organizations.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Yours In Christ,

Frontier School of the Bible

God is good.

Feb

2010

Frontier School of the Bible (update)

From Carmen Carpenter on Facebook,

Many have wondered what has transpired with Frontier School of the Bible’s situation with the State of Wyoming. A current state statute, designed to deal with diploma mills, inadvertently affected legitimate religious schools like Frontier by removing their religious exemption. Some of the effects of that statute were negated when Frontier School of the Bible was granted a Leadership School exemption. However, in order to deal with all of the unintended negative aspects of losing our religious exemption, Representative Ed Buchanan has submitted House Bill 16 on behalf of all post-secondary religious schools in Wyoming. Approval of this bill would restore our religious exemption.

Please pray that House Bill 16 would make it through the Educational Committees, be placed on the Legislative Agenda, and be passed by the Legislature. Pray for wisdom for those from Frontier School of the Bible who will be meeting with the Department of Education and legislators. The legislative session begins February 8th.

Thank you for your prayers.

The following is a copy of the post on FSB’s facebook page:

Please pray for Frontier!

Hi everyone! Here’s an update on our situation with the State of Wyoming. All this is happening starting next Monday and through the month of February 2010. PLEASE PRAY WITH US! It’s been awesome to see the positive response we’ve had lately but we know it is GOD and GOD ALONE that will work through this situation! “‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

****************
If you are a resident of Wyoming and would like more info on how to help, please call the school – 307-834-2215
****************

What is the situation?

Frontier School of the Bible is seeking to have our religious exemption restored by the Wyoming State Legislature. A current state statute, designed to deal with diploma mills, inadvertently affected legitimate religious schools. Some of the effects of that statute were negated by Frontier School of the Bible being granted a Leadership School exemption. However, in order to deal with all of the unintended negative aspects of losing our religious exemption, Representative Ed Buchanan has submitted House Bill 16 on behalf of Frontier School of the Bible and all other religious schools. Approval of this bill would restore our religious exemption and once again allow us to award degrees.

What can you do?

Thanks!

-FSB

Jun

2009

To Find Him Where He Can Be Found.

God speaks to me sometimes by sending the same message in different ways over a period of time and then I have what I call a coalescing moment where it all comes together.

I just had one of those when I received a my daily email from the Copelands and from a friend on Facebook from Zimbabwe. We have never met and I don’t know why he found me and asked me to be his friend. He has 6 friends and I am the only one not from Zumbabwe.

Since launching into ministry in January I have had an interesting ride. I am living the dream but have been plagued with fear and doubt shortly after making the decision. Building the kingdom has been in my heart for over 10 years. At a workshop for worship with Job Vijil I knew this is what I was born to do. God has always been faithful so why the worry?

I say He is my strength and my shield, my ever present help in time of need. I’m standing on the Word but I haven’t spoken in in weeks. Instead I have been speaking death. A couple weeks ago my amazing wife scolded me strongly for the way I’m talking and she is exactly right. She is such a blessing to me. The Word of God is the final word but I must put it to work by speaking it out.

I am reminded of a short prayer by Hans Ur von Balthasar I apologize if I’ve posted this before:

Harassed by life, exhausted, we look about us for somewhere to be quiet, to be genuine, a place of refreshment. We yearn to restore our spirits in God, to simply let go in him and gain new strength to go on living.

But we fail to look for him where he is waiting for us, where he is to be found; in his Son, who is his Word. Or else seek for God because there are a thousand things we want to ask him, and imagine that we cannot go on living unless they are answered. We inundate him with problems, with demands for information, for clues, for an easier path, forgetting that in his Word he has given us the solution to every problem and all the details we are capable of grasping in this life.

We fail to listen where God speaks; where God’s Word rang out in the world once for all, sufficient for all ages, inexhaustible. Or else we think that God’s Word has been heard on earth for so long that by now it is almost used up. That it is about time for some new word, as if we had the right to demand one. We fail to see that it is we ourselves who are used up and alienated, whereas the Word resounds with the same vitality and freshness as ever; it is just as near to us as it always was.

Hans Ur von Balthasar, Prayer. Trans. Graham Harrison (San Fancisco: Ignatius Press, 1986)

Today I committ to being in His Word and daily seeking Him in the secret place for His direction. I encourage you to do the same.

Blessings as you walk with Him.

Jun

2009

Frontier School of the Bible update

An update from this post, followed up by this, this, and this.

I received this on May the 6th and it got buried in my inbox. Sorry for the lateness. but here it is.

We’ve been waiting to receive this update and it came this morning. We are praising God for His amazing work!
This morning the Wyoming Department of Education granted FSB a leadership school exemption. This will allow them to operate as they are now without having to be working toward accreditation or licensing.
With this type exemption they are allowed to only grant diplomas rather than degrees, but they are working toward FSB having a religious exemption which would allow degrees to be offered. FSB’s attorneys have never experienced better cooperation with State leaders than with FSB’s situation, and cannot imagine a better development up to this point.
Thank you for the many prayers you have given on behalf of FSB. May God greatly bless you!
Please continue to pray that the details regarding FSB being granted a religious exemption will be worked out.

May

2009

Memorial Day Tribute

Apr

2009

Frontier School of the Bible update

An update from this post, followed up by this, and this.

Dear Friends,

Thank you for praying about our meeting with the Department of Education. We had very good dialogue with them, but there are still issues not fully resolved. Our lawyer and the Wyoming Attorney General’s office will continue discussing the situation to find a solution. We have one week to work on this, as the deadline to start the process for accreditation or licensing is currently April 30th.

Frontier School of the Bible

Please continue to pray, this is far from over.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Apr

2009

Update Frontier School of the Bible

Dear Friends,

We are praising the Lord for the extension granted to Frontier School of the Bible.
This has given time to consider and pursue different options. The new and final deadline
is April 30th. An invitation was given by the Department of Education to
meet at their office on April 22nd to discuss the situation. Please pray
that a solution can be agreed upon in that meeting. Another praise is that
the Alliance Defense Fund has agreed to represent us in this matter.

Thank you for your prayers.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Apr

2009

Update to Frontier School of the Bible

In this political environment with our freedoms attacked daily and politicians who go about implementing their agenda through tricks bypassing public debate and the will of the people. I assumed their was a dark purpose regarding the new legislation in Wyoming.

Mr Miles has asked that people not call or email the legislature rather to pray. His update is posted below. I appreciate Mr Miles taking the high road and I hope I have not damaged the cause.

Dear Christian Friends,

The following is an update on our situation with the State of Wyoming :

Yesterday, we sent an email to every member of the state legislature. Most of them are not aware of how the new state statutes have affected Frontier School of the Bible. Thus far, there has been a good response. The Economic Development Committee got involved and are very concerned about this situation. We are seeking to schedule a meeting at Frontier with the Department of Education, the Economic Development Committee, our local legislators, and the LaGrange City Council. Also, we asked for an extension to the April 15th deadline.
I spoke with Don Landis, who is the president of Jackson Hole Bible College , and learned that he was unaware of these new statutes. They affect this school as well.
Please pray that we can schedule this meeting and for a solution to this problem to come about in a non-confrontational way. I believe this can happen. For now, I think it is best if supportive individuals do not make calls or send emails to the State of Wyoming . I think it would be fine to do so if you have friends or contacts in the Wyoming state government.
There is no question that prayer is the best approach.

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging emails. I will continue to give updates.

Yours In Christ,
Nelson Miles

I sincerely apologize for my rash reaction.

Apr

2009

Does Wyoming really want to establish a state religion?

If the Wyoming state government were pressing this issue on a k-12 school it would be egregious enough however; This is a Post Secondary School which people can choose to attend or not based on how they want to be trained.

Below is a letter to constituents from Nelson Miles, President of Frontier School of the Bible

Dear Friend,

I am writing to you in regard to a situation facing Frontier School of the Bible – a situation that could shut down our school in the state of Wyoming .
In 2006, the legislature was seeking to deal with diploma mills. New legislation not only addressed this issue, but also included religious schools and took away religious exemptions, which protected us from state control. We were not aware of this and had no notification. The statute requires private post-secondary schools to become accredited or become licensed by the state. Last fall, the Department of Education did notify us that we were in violation of the law. I explained to them that we were unaware of the statute and thought we were under a religious exemption. Also, I explained the nature of our school and asked them to reconsider an exemption. They told me they would consider my request. Last Friday, I received a letter from the Wyoming Department of Education stating that our request was denied and we had until April 15 to start the process of accreditation or state licensing.
Bringing our school into compliance with the new state statute in regard to accreditation would create the following problems:

(1) It is very costly. As a faith-based institution, we do not have the financial resources to acquire and keep the accreditation.

(2) It would change the purpose and curriculum of the school.

(3) It would eliminate well-qualified instructors who do not have the higher degrees. We utilize experienced pastors and missionaries to train for those fields of ministry. Some have the higher degrees and some do not.
The other option is state licensing. This would involve having the State of Wyoming evaluate our Bible and ministry classes, instructors, and facilities to see if they want to grant us a license. Any changes to our curriculum would need to be approved by the Department of Education. Also, it appears that as a religious school we could not discriminate against religious beliefs and we would not be able to hold instructors or students to our doctrinal stand. This appears to be a clear violation of freedom of religion and one step away from state licensed churches. The implications of this situation could impact churches and Christian organizations all across our country.
We are asking Christians to fervently pray about this situation. We are praying that, if it is God’s will, legal action will not be needed. The Rutherford Institute and the ACLJ are looking at our situation.

Thank you for your prayers.
In Him,
Nelson Miles

President, Frontier School of the Bible

Mr Miles is only asking for prayer. We need to do more. If you live in Wyoming call and write your state legislature and ask them why they want to establish a state religion.

All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.

We must take a stand here.

Civics

Gary’s Rules

Frontier School of the Bible, Closure

Frontier School of the Bible (update)

To Find Him Where He Can Be Found.

Frontier School of the Bible update

Memorial Day Tribute

Frontier School of the Bible update

Update Frontier School of the Bible

Update to Frontier School of the Bible

Does Wyoming really want to establish a state religion?

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