This is not just good advice for business leaders. This is good advice for pastors, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers….well, pretty much all of us. In fact, some might argue that those three words are necessary for one to become a believer in Christ. I must be willing to admit I’ve messed up before I can recognize and believe the gift of Christ’s sacrifice on my behalf.
I’m excited about an upcoming concert in Nashville called Rock Your Community. The event will be held Friday, May 15, 2009 at Brentwood Baptist Church beginning at 7 PM. More details are available at the website: http://www.rockyourcommunity.com/ This event is sponsored by Community Outreach Ministries, which “strives to model the love of God and to meet the needs of the broken and wounded of Williamson County by providing a spiritual and pastoral presence in the community.”
I work with lots of church plants and young ventures. I love the enthusiasm and momentum an organization has early in its life. I hope to always be a part of starting something. As I’ve gotten older, however, I’m equally as concerned about sustainability. The right energy and vision will create growth fast, but building an organization that lasts requires having a plan for maintaining viability.
Do you need reminding that change is coming and there is a purpose to life?
Please know this, God will allow times of struggle greater than YOUR ability to handle it. He allows these times so that you might learn to fully and completely rely on Him. Apart from Him you and I can do nothing. When you and I learn that principle and live accordingly we will be free to experience His power, which is perfected in our weakness.
My friend Tony Hill sent me this email this week asking me about our experience with church planting: (Tony is the mastermind behind my blog design.)
My advice to parents is to surround your children with kids they can be encouraged by later in life. Pick your children’s friends, while you can, based on their parents. Look for people who share your values, share your discipline philosophy, and are heading their children in the same direction you want your children to go. Then get your children around those children as much as you can. Hopefully you will instill in your children the skills of picking the right kinds of friends wisely that will carry over into other periods of their life.
Yesterday I shared a post about the consequences of making mistakes after a person ignores repeated advice from others. It was based on a Biblical principle found in Proverbs 29:1. You can read that post HERE.
We also learn, however, by the wisdom of others and humbling ourselves enough to accept the correction or criticism others offer can often help us avoid costly mistakes. The verse ends with a warning of such, “will suddenly be broken beyond healing”. That part of the principle doesn’t ignore grace or the ability to recover, but it does point out that some mistakes can leave lasting consequences.
I wish it never happened to anyone and I hope it never happens to you, but in my job I hear it almost every week. It’s a word we are afraid of, one that can destroy, and certainly one that will break a heart. Sometimes people admit to it, but mostly they deny it.
The word is AFFAIR.
