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Could lead codices prove 'the major discovery of Christian history'? By Chris Lehmann Share retweet EmailPrint..By Chris Lehmann chris Lehmann - Wed Mar 30, 11:36 am ET British archaeologists are seeking to authenticate what could be a landmark discovery in the documentation of early Christianity: a trove of 70 lead codices that appear to date from the 1st century CE, which may include key clues to the last days of Jesus' life. As UK Daily Mail reporter Fiona Macrae writes, some researchers are suggesting this could be the most significant find in Christian archeology since the Dead Sea scrolls in 1947. The codices turned up five years ago in a remote cave in eastern Jordan-a region where early Christian believers may have fled after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. The codices are made up of wirebound individual pages, each roughly the size of a credit card. They contain a number of images and textual allusions to the Messiah, as well as some possible references to the crucifixion and resurrection. Some of the codices were sealed, prompting yet more breathless speculation that they could include the sealed book, shown only to the Messiah, mentioned in the Book of Revelation. One of the few sentences translated thus far from the texts, according to the BBC, reads, "I shall walk uprightly"--a phrase that also appears in Revelation. "While it could be simply a sentiment common in Judaism," BBC writer Robert Pigott notes, "it could here be designed to refer to the resurrection." But the field of biblical archaeology is also prey to plenty of hoaxes and enterprising fraudsters, so investigators are proceeding with due empirical caution. Initial metallurgical research indicates that the codices are about 2,000 years old--based on the manner of corrosion they have undergone, which, as Macrae writes, "experts believe would be impossible to achieve artificially." Beyond the initial dating tests, however, little is confirmed a

A gesture of friendship for my Christian (especially Methodist) friends in Leadership, but also I think this is a good leadership model of using new media and technology to send out a very old message, and also of adding a substantial level of communication by signing as well as speaking the message. And as a bishop, of course, we are looking at a religious leader in action. Happy Easter, all.

Ferriss, Timothy. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich. New York: Crown Archetype. 2007. ISBN-10: 0307353133 ISBN-13: 978-0307353139 If you view church work as a career, rather than a calling, it is easy to see the move from working 40 hours a week as the Associate Pastor at a church to working 80 hours a week as the Senior Minister at a church as a "promotion". If you have spent your life attending and serving small churches, it is easy to see the role of Pastor as Chief Cook and Bottle Washer. Tim Ferriss' book was not written for those who serve God in a church setting, but there is so much to be gleaned from this book. If for no other reason, read this book because Tim Ferris gives you permission to be unreasonable and unambiguous, puts you on a Low-Information Diet, and teaches you the Art of Refusal. If nothing else, you can learn how to get a church secretary for $4.00/hour and get more work done. Some of this advice just won't work for those of us who serve God in the church, but so much of it will. Buy a highlighter. Buy some sticky notes. Buy the book.

A cartoon illustrating a reality of Utah leadership. This makes me think about how our (as a culture) perception of leadership has changed over the years. Makes me wonder about how a leader is being portrayed and how our perceptions of what visions (or lack of visions) a leader has can reinforce contemporary feelings of nostalgia, complacency, and helplessness.

Shawn, interesting contrast. Cartoonists have lampooned leaders since Thomas Nast (1840-1902). But, as you point out, cartoonists are also people who are watching trends and pointing toward changes and shifts in popular opinion.

One can learn and appreciate leadership by reading the actual writings of a leader. "The Collected Writings of Samson Occom, Mohegan: Literature and Leadership in Eighteenth-Century Native America" is a compilation of twenty sermons and diary entries of transactions written by Occum, a Native American leader and Presbyterian minister in the late 1700s. Such writings provide readers with insights into the actual life of a leader instead of and in contrast to the accounts written by others who purport to know what such a leader's burdens, struggles, and motives are.

I found this article to be an interesting capsulization of a modern business leader or any leader for that matter, but mostly pertaining to business leaders. Dr Jim Taylor summarizes the top 10 qualities that he finds "without exception, woven into the fabric of a successful leader". They are identity, vision, passion, ownership, determination, the grind, inspiried by failure, respond with challenge, crisis mastery and process focus. Dr. Taylor's 10 Qualities of a Primal Leader describes leadership in action, not the nature or personality of a leader. Taylor's only slightly taps into the nature of a leader when he talks about passion, but quickly goes on to explain that having passion is what inspires the people a Primal Leader works with every day. I liked the "feel" of this article as being action oriented with a lot of energy. It's interesting with a little salesmanship thrown in for good measure.

Winning in a small field is much less exciting than feeling like a loser among a bunch of superstars.

This young man is a visionary leader. A boy with a dream and the open-mindedness to see what could be. As we travel through all of the amzaing, rhyming ways that this fellow will change this space we are challenged as a reader with what we can see and do beyond our own walls. Although the intended audience is most likely children, adults alike can gain perspective, be challenged, and appreciate the places that we can go when we let our mind wonder.

There are a few books that Dr Seuss wrote for adults and this sounds like one of them. The other that comes to mind is the Butter Battle Book before the fall of Communism. Thanks for posting it. I will check it out.

A helpful reminder about e-mail (and, perhaps, moodle posting) communication for leaders/administrators

I don't know, Debbie. I think addressing someone on email by their first name followed by a colon (or not) isn't stiff and cold. I think starting an email with no salutation is cold. (Different strokes for different folks, perhaps.)

I think I agree with you, Judy, or at least I appreciate your reflection of different strokes. My sense is that it differs depending on a whole lot of variables, including sender, reader, topic, and so much more. For example, when someone who doesn't know me is asking for something from me, I tend to respond better to an e-mail that begins with "Dear Dr. Creamer" and then is well written and somewhat formal (but not too long). On the other hand, if it's someone I know sending me something like a brief piece of information, simply including my name (at the beginning with, or without, a colon, or in the first line) is more than sufficient. And when it's the introduction to a forwarded message ("Saw this and thought you'd appreciate it") or a quick reminder ("Just to follow up on what I just told you in the hallway, our meeting will be Tuesday at 2"), I wouldn't need (or expect) my name to be there at all. Maybe what I most appreciate from this post, then, is the reminder to be thoughtful about not just what we say but how we say it, particularly in a space like e-mail that can so easily carry misunderstandings.

Mike Krzyzewksi is a consistent winner. "Coach K" has led (as of the end of the season 2010) the Duke men's basketball team to four national championships, ten Final Fours, and a host of other achievements. He has also led the U.S. Men's Olympic team to a gold medal. Though Leading with the Heart follows Coach K's leadership through a basketball season, it focuses on leadership principles that have been the hallmark of his "compassionate, focused, highly flexible leadership" and on the five fundamental qualities that Coach K has used to form consistently successful teams on and off the court.

"Our Iceberg is Melting" by John Kotter, St. Martins Press 2005, uses the age old tool of a parable/story to demonstrate how a crisis becomes an opportunity for a group of penguins that are facing change. Both of my book choices forcus on animal behavior as a powerful expample of human behavior and how this directly connects to organizational issues.

"The wisdom of the Bees" by Michael O'Malley, Penguin Group 2010 "What the hive can teach buisness about leadership effeciency and growth" is where the author takes the reader through a 25 step process utilizing the skills of bees and bee colonies to inform and guide organizations in identifying their strengths and weaknesses to create purposeful, effective and successful group norms and outcomes. It's fascinating and my choice for a review along with my second one

Hi folks....somehow this did not make it into the group blog on books to read but instead sat in my own Diigo library. It is worth taking a gander at and I am loving reading it. Galen

I loved the wisdom of bees too! This is a very good book and is inviting to a wide variety of folks. I liked that when I used it for a leadership class that I had positive feedback from both young and old, male and female and it has great insights regardless of where you are in life or business.

The Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District will have a new superintendent starting in June. The school board voted last week to hire Michael Reid to replace Interim Superintendent Thomas Anthony at the end of the school year, according to the district. The board used a recruitment agency to field candidates for the seat. Anthony is a retired administrator from San Diego and was brought in to act as interim superintendent after former Superintendent Douglas Oliveira left for a coaching position at College of the Redwoods. I posted this little article from my home town newspaper, The Times-Standard. I thought it was interesting and relevant because I grew-up with the former supervisor, Douglas Oliveria. Doug was a leader, even in high school. Captain of the basketball team, very bright personalble and intelligent. I had lost track of Doug after I left Humboldt County at the age of 27, but I know he followed in his father's footsteps and went into educaiton. I wasn't surprised to see that he was still a leader and had accepted a job as a coach at the junior college, College of the Redwoods. This appeared to me as if Doug had left his leadership position as superintendent for his dream. Coach. Another leadership position, but with less "acclaim" and more fun. Doug would be about 60 years old now. It was time to follow his dream... I wish him only the best.

In Leadership for Vital Congregations, Anthony Robinson offers us leadership strategies that will benefit a church. "Functional strategies" to lead and information to develop as a leader, especially a spiritual leader. Robinson's work draws upon the expertise of other leaders as he develops "seven strategies for pastoral leadership". As I have read more about Leadership and Northouse (as well as Blanchard and Hodges in Servant Leadership) and reflected on my own experiences as a leader, in my opinion, Robinson doesn't go into depth enough on the qualities of a good leader and his transition from leader to pastoral or chuch leader is a bit choppy. All in all, Robinson gives us a few basics and, as I previously mentioned, his Seven Strategies for Pastoral Leadership. If this book was presented at a conference (and I believe it was) it would be okay as we would hear Robinson speak about the book and hopefully, go into more depth about it.

A link to an article where Cronin describes leaders as "inventors, risk-takers and entrepreneurs. Leaders are individuals who can help create options and opportunities, who can help clarify problems and choices, who can build moral and coalitions, who can inspire others and provide a vision of the possibilities." These leaders possess a "contagious self-confidence, optimism and idealism that allow them to attract and mobilize others to undertake tasks these people never dreamed they could undertake."

Cronin uses a Thoreau quote to describe perception of self. "What a man thinks about himself," wrote Thoreau, "that is what determines, or rather indicates his fate."

Article highlights some of the neuroscience behind leadership. Essentially, the way a leader delivers a message is more important than the message itself, and science proves it. The effects of activating neural circuitry in followers' brains can be very powerful. In a recent study, researchers observed two groups: One received negative performance feedback accompanied by positive emotional signals-namely, nods and smiles; the other was given positive feedback that was delivered critically, with frowns and narrowed eyes. In subsequent interviews conducted to compare the emotional states of the two groups, the people who had received positive feedback accompanied by negative emotional signals reported feeling worse about their performance than did the participants who had received good-natured negative feedback. In effect, the delivery was more important than the message itself. And everybody knows that when people feel better, they perform better. So, if leaders hope to get the best out of their people, they should continue to be demanding but in ways that foster a positive mood in their teams. The old carrot-and-stick approach alone doesn't make neural sense; traditional incentive systems are simply not enough to get the best performance from followers. Here's an example of what does work. It turns out that there's a subset of mirror neurons whose only job is to detect other people's smiles and laughter, prompting smiles and laughter in return. A boss who is self-controlled and humorless will rarely engage those neurons in his team members, but a boss who laughs and sets an easygoing tone puts those neurons to work, triggering spontaneous laughter and knitting his team together in the process. A bonded group is one that performs well.

Sooo this is a bit of fun in high places. Apparently one does not have to be a "fly on the wall" to see those little grey men, one just has to be a powerful buddy of a powerful president!