Help Me

Recently a friend asked me to hold them accountable for something in their life.  They said I should be able to do this on my own but it has become obvious that I can’t so I need someone to help apply some pressure and hold me accountable.

His request made me think several things.  First I am so thankful that our friendship is deep enough that he felt comfortable being so transperent.  It encourages me to trust my friends with some of my struggles.

I realized that his struggle is not unusual.  I think most if not all of us have something in our life that we struggle with.  We know what we should do and maybe even want to do the right thing but we struggle.  If that’s you…you are not unusual or alone.

We could all use some help.  We need someone to help apply some pressure and lovingly hold us accountable.  We need someone to ask us some tough questions or call us on the carpet if we’re dropping the ball.

The goal in our lives should be to grow in our likeness to Jesus.  No one ever suggested that is something we do all by ourselves.  We need other people in our lives who help to shape us and mold us.  We need people who God uses to help sand the rough edges away.

Where do you need some pressure in your life and who are you trusting to apply that pressure?

Just some thoughts,
Jeff.

My 55 To Carry

I just got back to my office from sharing some leadership/teamwork thoughts with the Mariner basketball team.  (One of my favorite things I do each week.)  Today I shared the old (really old) story about moving a barn in Bruno, Nebraska.

In short form — Herman Osprey wanted to move his barn about 50 yards to higher ground to avoid flooding when it rains.  So his son devised a plan using steel tubing all around the barn.  His son’s plan was that if 344 people each lifted 55 pounds they could move the barn.  It worked.  344 people moved that barn 50 yards to higher ground.

It’s a great reminder than when everybody does their part — lifts their part enormous things can be accomplished.  Do you realize that someone is counting on you to lift your 55 pounds? 

Your church is counting on you to serve somewhere to do your part to help reach your community.  Your employer is counting on you to lift your 55.  Your spouse is counting on you.  Your children are counting on you.

If you drop your 55 then someone else has to try to pick up yours and theirs.  Wherever God has placed you in life, jump in and carry your 55 and see what can be accomplished together for His glory.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Too Long

It has been far too long since I have taken the time to sit down and share some thoughts here.  I’ve thought about it.  It’s been on my “To Do” list.  I’ve felt guilty about it.  I’ve told people I need to get back to writing in my blog.  But for a variety of reasons and/or excuses I haven’t done it.

Well today I finally decided to do it.  There are other things in my life, a few of them far more important than blogging, that I think about doing, put on my “To Do” list, feel guilty about, talk about but never do.  It comes down to just deciding I am going to do it.  Do you have things like that?  What have you been putting off that you need to just do?

I hope by making myself write today, that it will start a new habit for me.  The truth is that next week I will have to decide again and make myself just sit down and do it.

Whatever your “thing” is that you need to just do…I am hoping this will give you a little inspiration.  Now stop reading and just go do it.

Just some thoughts,
Jeff.

Leadership

Like all Americans I have been watching and listening to the political banter over the debt ceiling.  I am frustrated with the whole process.  Amidst all the maneuvering I keep hearing people talk about leadership.  I’ve heard them say so and so needs to step up and show some leadership.  What they are really saying is that someone needs to come up with a plan.

Is that what defines leadership?  Someone’s ability to come up with a plan?  Is leadership about who can scream the loudest or talk the longest?

Isn’t a leader defined by whether or not anyone is following them?  If you think you are leading but you look behind you and no one is following you, that is not leadership. 

It is not just an issue in Washington.  It is true for all of us.  Parents, if your children are not following you then you’re not really leading.  If people at work aren’t following you then there’s a problem with your leadership.  In some cases it is a problem with those who are supposed to be following but more often it is a failure to really lead.

Real leadership in Washington would be about getting people who are far apart in their thinking to sit down and work together to come up with a plan that is good for our nation.  Not a plan that is good for their polictial future.  Real leadershp is sacrificial.  Real leadership puts the interest of the whole ahead of any individual.  Real leadership sees the big picture.

I think the guys in Washington need to look around and see if anyone is really following.  I need to look around in the arenas where I lead and honestly ask, “Is anyone following me?”

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Energy

Peg and I (and Michael) just returned from a great vacation in the GA mountains.  We had a very restful time and came back refreshed and ready to get back to reaching our city for Jesus!

A few years ago my brother-in-law gave us a cooler for the car that plugs into a car outlet.  It has a fan and a motor that have to be running to keep everything cool but it is useless unless it is plugged into a power source.  The fan and motor have to do their work but they can’t work without energy.

I read a powerful verse in Colossians while I was away.  Paul is writing about all the work he is doing to point people to Jesus.  And then he shares this in Colossians 1:29, “To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

Paul says the energy source for all of his work is God.  He has work to do but the energy to do that work is God.  It struck me very deeply when I read that.  I am guilty of struggling through my “work” under my own power instead of the power of God.

Notice Paul says that the energy he gets from God is a powerful energy.  That same powerful energy is available to me and to you.  I just have to make sure I am plugged into the right energy source.  I want the power of God to work in my life.  I want the power of God to sustain my life.  I want the power of God to be my energy source.

So I am striving in my life to ask myself everyday…who is the source of your energy today?  Yourself or God?

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Measuring Mountains

My dad recently found this quote on a piece of paper in his Bible and gave it to me.  “Don’t measure the size of the mountain, talk to the One who can move it.”

Those are words I need to hear occassionally.  I’ve been living through a few weeks when it’s been easy to get focused on the size of the mountain and lose sight of the one who can move it.  When that happens I get sidetracked on my own abilities or lack thereof.  Maybe I’m the only one that struggles with this, but I doubt it.

I serve a powerful God who is able to move all the mountains I face.  I need to take more time in my life to worship Him and exalt him as the mountain mover.  The more I worship Him the less I struggle with fear as I face the mountains.

He is able when I am not.  Thanks goodness.

Just some thoughts,
Jeff.

Support

This morning I was reading in Job 4 and these words struck me.   “…you have encouraged many people;  you have strengthened those who were weak.  Your words have supported those who were falling;  you encouraged those with shaky knees.”

I want to be an encourager for people with shaky knees.  We’ve all experienced “shaky knee” moments.  Moments when we have felt fear, worry, failure, stress, uncertainty.  We’ve needed people who would strengthen us by reminding us of the strength and power of God.

I am thankful there have been people like that in my life.  People who were present at just the right times.  I don’t think that’s accidental.  I think that’s the work of God.

I also know God wants to put me in the lives of other people at the moment that they need some encouragement and support.  I have to be willing and I have to be paying attention to God’s prompting.

Let’s determine to be “shaky knee” supporters!

Just some thoughts…

Jeff.

Competing Sentiments

Sunday night I happened to be up late watching a movie when I got a text about the death of Osama Bin Laden, so I switched channels to hear the President’s announcement.

In the following hours and days I wrestled with mixed sentiments.  Honestly there is a part of me (the patriotic part) that has celebrated the news.  Someone who inflicted great harm and pain on our country was brought to justice. 

I felt a sense of pride at the job our intelligence agencies and those Navy seals did in carrying out an incredibly dangerous mission.  You can’t help but to be “wow-ed” by what they did.

Yet amidst those feelings there was a lingering feeling of sadness.  I am saddened that Bin Laden chose to follow a false god and never submitted to the leadership of Jesus Christ.  I am confident that God was sad that another person will spend eternity in hell because they refused to follow Jesus.

Amidst these different feelings I have struggled with how do I respond to event like these as someone who follows Jesus.  God is a God of justice and certainly there are plenty of Biblical principles for punishing those who have committed the kinds of awful crimes that Bin Laden committed.  Yet the message of the New Testament is one of grace for even the worst of sinners.  If Bin Laden had been willing to bow his knee to Jesus, God would have freely and gladly poured His grace into Bin Laden’s life and welcomed him into His Kingdom.

Is it wrong to celebrate an American victory?  I don’t think so.  But the bigger issue as a Christ follower is always the eternal destiny of people who were created in the image of God.

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.

Psalm 138

This morning I was reading Psalm 138 in my quiet time.  I was encouraged by a couple of things I read there.

Psalm 138:2, “…for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”   The promises of God are backed by the honor of His name.  How much we trust what someone promises depends on the integrity and honor of their name.  If a liar promises something we don’t really believe he will keep his promise.  If a person of integrity promises something we are confident it will happen.  How much more trustworthy can you get than God’s name.  The honor of His name gives credibility to His promises.  What He promises, He will do.  Take it to the bank!

Psalm 138:6, “Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.”  In our culture it seems that if someone is great they want to be connected with other great people.  They don’t have time or interest in someone below them.  In a sense God is just the opposite.  Even though there is none greater, God connects with those  who are humble, not those who are full of pride.  You want to stay close to God – think of yourself less.  You want to be like God – value others more than you value yourself.

Take a minute and read the rest of Psalm 138.  I think it will encourage you too.

Just some thoughts,
Jeff.

Wrong Question

I heard a speaker on DVD this week point out that we sometimes ask the wrong question.  When we invite someone to follow Jesus we often ask, “If you died tonight where would you go?”  We are asking if they want to go to heaven or hell and if they want to go to heaven then they need to follow Jesus.  That’s all very true.  Jesus is the only way to heaven and those who do not follow Jesus will go to hell.

There is a better question, though.  “If you had twenty years to live, how would you want to live?”  If you want to live an abundant, full life then follow Jesus.  Jesus is not just our ticket out of hell.  He is our ticket to an incredible life here on earth.  Not that Jesus takes all the pain out of life or gives us every thing we think we want, but Jesus brings peace and hope to our lives.  He is the anchor for our lives. 

Let’s start asking the better question.  Let’s remind people what Jesus can mean for their lives right now and for eternity.  Jesus says, “Come follow me!”

Just some thoughts,

Jeff.