Archive for the ‘positive’ Category
You can shine like stars in the universe.
"But I'll never get this project completed!"
"Those potholes are so huge – why doesn't someone fill them?"
"I'll never get these books read."
"I don't care for this music…. it's too loud/soft/fast/slow."
—–
The litany of complaints never ends. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy that what you complain about with words but refuse to take action on will never be resolved.
Instead you stew, you vent, you get red-faced. And in the end you look like a clown: your face is discolored, your actions are animated (looks like you're juggling), and you might even shoot steam out of your ears.
Paul once wrote on the subject to the Christians in Philippi, "Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." -Philippians 2:14-16 NIV
I have learned that merely complaining never fixes anything. I used to be a big complainer – to waitstaff, to 800-number customer service reps, to my friends, to family, etc.
I learned that in all those wasted breaths I accomplished nothing – it was as Shakespeare wrote, "sound and fury, Signifying nothing."
Instead of complaining, I choose to make a difference. So where I see injustice – I seek justice. When I am confused I pray for clarity. When I am lost I seek guidance. When I see that something needs to get done – I do it.
Funny thing is – when you become a person of action – you feel healthier because you're doing something about the situation. Others however, get jealous very quickly and say, "What's so special about him?"
The answer is – nothing special. Except for being fed up with being the clown. You can do this – it's easy. Instead of problems focus on solutions.
May you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life!
The Song that’s still in you
Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
The final part is often attributed to Thoreau but does not appear in Walden – “and go to the grave with the song still in them.”
What song is still in you that’s yet to be written? What is it that’s keeping you from singing that song as loud and off-key as you can so that at least someone can hear the blessing of the song?
Maybe you’re like me and can’t carry a tune with a fork-lift. Perhaps you wonder what your great gift is, what business you could start, what realtionship could be like walking with the Lord.
Solomon noted in Ecclesiastes 9:7-11, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”
The time is now for the new movies, the new music, new software, and new ideas that are in your mind. Now is the time to enroll in that new class, write that new book, finish that new program – now is the time to do whatever you do with all your might.
Don’t settle for a life of quiet desperation. Don’t go to the grave with the song still in you!
Connecting with Sujo John
I had the joy of being part of a tele-conference tonight with evangelist Sujo John. Sujo’s testimony and ministry of preaching God’s Word and story of creative redemption in the Grace of Jesus Christ is captivating and glorifying to God.
I have never been a big fan of the “tele-conference” idea – I’ve been part of several from tech/ministry related organizations and companies. I think every time I felt like the whole purpose was just to sell me a product or a higher level of service.
Tonight’s conference call was different. First, it was a sacrifice. I’m in the Arbuckle mountains of southern Oklahoma and our evening service began right about the time the call was scheduled for tonight. Second, it was prayer driven, God focused, and Kingdom inspired. Each part of the conversation which had folks on it from all across the U.S. was covered in prayer and honest concern for the proliferation of the Gospel.
Finally, it was unique. There was no sales pitch, no “5 easy steps” – it was an honest presentation of the amazing work Sujo is doing in countries many of us could only dream of even visiting. The audience he commands in these nations is impressive but the message he unabashedly shares with them and the lives changed he sees can only come from the blessing of God on someone’s life.
I get a big smile on my face every time I read an update about where Sujo’s been or a crusade he’s lead that saw Muslim background people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Inside my chest a feeling wells up like we might actually win this battle when I hear of people who boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior – the only final solution to humanity’s despair.
Take a moment to check out my friend Sujo John’s website – you will be blessed by his testimony and the continued blessing God has upon his ministry of taking grace to those who are desperately in need it.
Discovering Positive Theology
Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”
The Psalmist wrote, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 ESV
If we’ve focused these many years on what we are against a proper reaction to this would begin to focus on what we are about, that in the presence of God is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.
God gives us purpose and that leads us to His presence where we may find joy and pleasure. This leads me to believe that God has tied our happiness to our work.
Finding purpose in our journey gives meaning to life and the struggle to achieve our goals generates a deeper sense of living a meaningful life with purpose.
Book Review: The Offsite
Robert H. Thompson says that the fictional characters in his book, The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable
As Thompson weaves the overbearing burned out salesman, budding young executive, motivational speakers, and even a gardener into his fable based on the seminal The Leadership Challenge
Thompson writes from his experience as a speaker, workshop leader, executive coach, and one of the founders of The Leadership Challenge Workshop. He incorporates The Leadership Challenge’s highly acclaimed five practices into the lives of everyday people struggling in their sense of leadership identity not to mention their personal lives.
Thompson’s characters invite you to care about them, understand their motivations, their fears, and their uncertainties. As a third-person observer you not only read the conversations: you know their thoughts. While not groundbreaking for fiction, it is revolutionary in the world of leadership.
Numerous times one has heard the methods employed, meetings held, and the outcomes of successful leadership – but how many times have the individual’s innermost thoughts been exposed?
This book could be implemented as a model for churches seeking to help transition their congregations to new models. Churches that seek to move from event-based “attractional” models to service and “externally-focused” models must have lay leaders and staff convinced that a shared vision helps everyone achieve more for the Great Commission.
In application, one realizes that the offsite meeting itself is not the target Thompson is aiming at in his work. Thompson provides a framework for instituting positive change in any leaders’ life at any level in the organization.
In Joe’s transformation (which includes elements similar to the Apostle Paul’s Damascus Road experience) a glimpse is offered that titles mean little for authentic leadership as he steps down from Vice President to a seemingly insignificant role. At this significant moment of transformation, Joe cries out, “Just give me another chance, I’m just a fake. I can see that now” (134).
Whether Aesop or Thompson, fables end with a moral to the story. Thompson teaches that servant leaders who listen and model authenticity find the success everyone else is desperately seeking.
This is a lesson pastors desperately need to hear in multiple formats including the use of fiction to drive home the point. I found this book to be easy to read and hard to put down.
For me this book is the icing on the cake of the excellent The Leadership Challenge and should be read by anyone willing to challenge themselves to greater leadership.
About
Clark Frailey is a husband, father, and Lead Pastor of Coffee Creek Baptist Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.
clarkfrailey.com
