SIX THINKING HATS

Recently I read a book called the Six thinking Hats. It really blessed me. The thesis of the book is this: there are different ways to think. We can think in a positive way, or a negative way. We can think in an emotional way or a objective way. We can think in a creative way or an organization way. And the point is this: If I come to you with an idea and I am thinking in a positive, can do way, and all you do is tell me why it will never work, guess what? Sparks are going to fly. What if we could all look at a problem in the same way.

We can by using the six hats method. Let’s take a look at the six hats.

1. The white hat.

White is a neutral color. The white hat refers to neutral or objective information. When you both put on your white hat and think in a similar way, you put the problem on the coffee table and ask, “What do the experts say about this situation? What are the facts?”


2. The red hat.

The red hat represents getting red in the face. It represents getting worked up emotionally. And when you put on your red hat you simply say, “This is how I am feeling about this situation…”

Now let me share with you a tip. Before you spend, think through your purchase using the red hat. Often we buy something on a purely emotional impulse. Going through the six hats helps you to avoid doing that.

3. The Black hat.

The black hat is the hat of caution. It is the critical hat. It is the devil’s advocate hat. It is the “seeing what’s wrong hat.” With this hat, you look at the problem and ask, “
“What’s missing? What’s wrong here?”

In the book, the author says that this is probably the most important hat. And as a society, we are trained to wear it all the time. So many of us are continually looking at the world with our black hat on. But we need to practice looking at it with our other hats on as well.

4. The yellow hat.

The yellow hat represents sunshine. It is the positive thinking hat. It is looking on the bright side. It is asking the question, “ What is good here? What are the benefits of this problem?”


5. The green hat.

Green represents grass. It represents growth. When you put on this hat, you brain storm creative ways to solve your problems. You make a list of possibilities to solve your problem.

When Robert Schuller moved to California to start a church he found a major problem he had to overcome. He couldn’t find a place to meet. You have to hold church somewhere. He couldn’t find out. What did he do? He put on his green hat and made a list of possible place he could meet. His list included places like other churches, funeral homes, and then at the bottom of the list was a outdoor movie theatre. Him and his wife took their honey moon in Okoboji, Ia and saw a church there that holds it service in a outdoor movie theatre. That is where he got the idea. And guess where the Crystal cathedral got started? Meeting in an outdoor movie theatre. And it all started with Schuller putting his green hat on. He calls it “count to ten and win.” When you are facing a problem, come up with 10 possibilities. That’s your green hat.

6. The blue hat.

The blue hat represents blue prints. It represents plans. It represents a plan of action. After wearing all the hats, you now make a plan of action. You write a plan of what you are going to do as a result of your brain storming.

Third service update!

We have been dealing with a lack of space? We presented the church a plan to deal with it? Our plan included a short term, mid-term, and long term remedy.

Short-term-have kids go back to Sunday school right away during the 10:15 service.
Mid-term- have 3rd service
Long-term-Build an addition to our building.

Our first step was to have the option available for kids to go back to their Sunday school classes right away at 10:15. Many parents are taking advantage of that. Another good trend is that since we made those announcements and plans More people have been coming to the first service. Therefore, we don;t think we will have to go to the third service any time soon.

I do want to let you know that the survey found that the overwhelming choice for another service would be Saturday night. 75% said that.

What is a Problem?

The other day I sat down and asked this question: How can I redefine problems? Here is what I came up with:

What is a problem?
- An opportunity for God to bring good out of bad!
- An opportunity to find meaning. It's in solving them that life has meaning.
- An opportunity for work. With out them most of us would not have a job.
- An opportunity for confidence. Yes, with God’s help, we can solve them.
- And opportunity for possibilities.
- An opportunity for pro-activity. It’s the not the problem; it’s my reaction to it that counts.
- An opportunity for Character development.
- An opportunity to witness for Christ!