Buzzword Bingo
Everybody has buzzwords - business has theirs, the entertainment industry has a lingo, in sports, and in church work we have ours, too. Dilbert the other day had the pointy haired boss try to lead via catchprhases:
I have threatened to make up "Buzzword Bingo" cards for Annual Conference. You know, put words like "Holy Conferencing" and "Inclusiveness" and "Core Value" and, oh yeah, "Jesus" on the card and when you get five in a row you can jump up and yell "BINGO", or maybe "Holy Spirit" I don't know... We're not allowed to play bingo, so we definitely shouldn't yell out that word. Maybe if I had people yell out "Hallelujah!" when they got 5 in a row, the powers that be at conference would just assume that the person was powerfully moved by the point being made.* But we would know - and would secretly give them a prize.**
The point being that we like to use the terminology - we SAY the right things... but, well, like the pointy haired boss, too often the words don't translate into any real action. They're just words that we say. Where are the transformed hearts and lives? And what about those who lead...by example? Am I leading by example? Or just playing buzzword bingo?
*Odd are it would happen during a presentation by the finance committee when most people are asleep, so they'd LOVE to hear a hallelujah every once in a while.
** A pack of Test-a-Mints, of course :)
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| copyright Scott Adams |
I have threatened to make up "Buzzword Bingo" cards for Annual Conference. You know, put words like "Holy Conferencing" and "Inclusiveness" and "Core Value" and, oh yeah, "Jesus" on the card and when you get five in a row you can jump up and yell "BINGO", or maybe "Holy Spirit" I don't know... We're not allowed to play bingo, so we definitely shouldn't yell out that word. Maybe if I had people yell out "Hallelujah!" when they got 5 in a row, the powers that be at conference would just assume that the person was powerfully moved by the point being made.* But we would know - and would secretly give them a prize.**
The point being that we like to use the terminology - we SAY the right things... but, well, like the pointy haired boss, too often the words don't translate into any real action. They're just words that we say. Where are the transformed hearts and lives? And what about those who lead...by example? Am I leading by example? Or just playing buzzword bingo?
*Odd are it would happen during a presentation by the finance committee when most people are asleep, so they'd LOVE to hear a hallelujah every once in a while.
** A pack of Test-a-Mints, of course :)
Comments
This video clip broke my heart when I first watched it, because it reminds me of how many people are so trapped on the ark. The best part, is that for only $18.00, you can use this clip in a worship service. Haha. Buzzwords are such an easy trap to fall into.