We have an exceptional leadership team at the church I pastor. I often go to them, seeking their input and advice with regard to various matters. But let’s be honest...how often do we like to "receive" advice? Wouldn’t we rather "give" it? But "receiving" advice is actually quite a wise thing to do!
The ability to accept and act on good advice is fundamental to success in any venture. That's why Solomon said, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22)
The question is: Who do you go to for advice? Here are some suggestions about who to turn to.
Seek advice from those who know. Leonardo da Vinci said, "Ask counsel of him who governs himself well." There are people I know from whom I will gladly receive financial advice, but whose parenting advice I avoid. Not everyone is wise in every area, but in the areas where they excel and succeed, that’s the area where seeking their advice is wise.
Do you want to learn how to endure adversity? Don't ask someone for whom life has been a "piece of cake". Talk with the person who has been through the valley, through the dark times. Ask the one who has weathered a few storms. They’re the ones who can give you advice that is worthwhile.
Seek advice from those who care. There are people in life who have only their best interest in mind, and there are people in life who truly care about you. Talk to the ones who care. The advice they give is going to be a benefit, whereas the ones who only focus on themselves may not guide you in a direction that will help you.
John Ray said, "It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his counselor." Isn’t it funny how every time you ask for advice from a salesman their advice always involves purchasing his product? Make sure you listen to those who have your best interests in heart, not theirs.
Be willing to hear what you don't want to hear, and be willing to do what you don't want to do. The temptation is to seek advice from those who will say what you want them to say. Good advice will challenge you to rethink your approach and fine tune your strategy. Solomon said, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15)
Getting advice is not about allowing others to make decisions for you. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. You're the one who must live the consequences - all the more reason to make sure going in that you've heard from the best and are committed to following their example.
I encourage you to use wisdom when seeking advice. And of course, begin with God. If there’s anyone who knows you, cares for you and will guide you in a direction that will always benefit you......it’s Him.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A Great Sermon
I got a call the other day from a dear friend, commenting on a recent lesson I taught at the church. Hey, I’m just like everyone else.......it feels good to receive a compliment. Well, his call got the wheels turning in my brain and I began thinking about the question, "What’s a great sermon?"
To answer that, let me share a brief story sent to me by my friend, Nancy:
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse:
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."
When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
"Jesus loves me, this I know." Now THAT’S a great sermon! The Bible says it this way: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
I’ve taught a lot of sermons in my life, and Lord willing, I’ll teach many more. No one is going to remember all of them (not even me!). But I encourage you to remember the sermon from the 92 year old pastor. It’s words are worth more than all the gold in the world!
To answer that, let me share a brief story sent to me by my friend, Nancy:
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....
"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse:
"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."
When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.
"Jesus loves me, this I know." Now THAT’S a great sermon! The Bible says it this way: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
I’ve taught a lot of sermons in my life, and Lord willing, I’ll teach many more. No one is going to remember all of them (not even me!). But I encourage you to remember the sermon from the 92 year old pastor. It’s words are worth more than all the gold in the world!
Being a Giver
I was on the receiving end this week. I received a phone call on Thursday telling me that I had been given an extremely generous gift. In fact, it wasn’t one gift, it was two. This gift came from a group of people who truly went WAY above and beyond in their giving. I was truly blessed and look forward with great anticipation to enjoying their gift to me.
But it got me to thinking.......am I a giver? A good friend of mine once said, "Never give to a non-giver because at that moment your giving stops." Good point! If I give to a non-giver, the giving stops. But if I give to another giver, the giving just keeps on going and going and going.
Let’s face it, there are two kinds of people in this world: givers and takers. I’m guessing we all know our share of both. But the big question is this: Which one are you?
A couple of verses of Scripture come to mind. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "God loves the person who gives cheerfully." And Romans 12:8 says, "If you have money, share it generously."
The following story explains it well:
As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about 10-years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently, and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. He then told him many details about this particular year and body style.
After a bit, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied,
"Nothing. My brother gave it to me."
The boy responded, "I wish . . ." but stopped in mid_sentence.
The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'"
"No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that'. You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him."
Let me encourage you to follow the example of the individuals who blessed me last week....and the heart of the young man in the story....be a generous giver. Giving isn’t exclusively monetary. There are so many ways to give into the lives of others. Choose to be a giver. Trust me, it’s the much better way to go!
But it got me to thinking.......am I a giver? A good friend of mine once said, "Never give to a non-giver because at that moment your giving stops." Good point! If I give to a non-giver, the giving stops. But if I give to another giver, the giving just keeps on going and going and going.
Let’s face it, there are two kinds of people in this world: givers and takers. I’m guessing we all know our share of both. But the big question is this: Which one are you?
A couple of verses of Scripture come to mind. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "God loves the person who gives cheerfully." And Romans 12:8 says, "If you have money, share it generously."
The following story explains it well:
As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about 10-years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently, and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. He then told him many details about this particular year and body style.
After a bit, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied,
"Nothing. My brother gave it to me."
The boy responded, "I wish . . ." but stopped in mid_sentence.
The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'"
"No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that'. You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him."
Let me encourage you to follow the example of the individuals who blessed me last week....and the heart of the young man in the story....be a generous giver. Giving isn’t exclusively monetary. There are so many ways to give into the lives of others. Choose to be a giver. Trust me, it’s the much better way to go!
The Best Source
I can remember when I was younger and I had messed up. I know that most of you have never messed up, but I was actually kind of good at it. This particular time my dad was talking with me (TO me) and I shot some smart reply to him like, "Yeah, well you’re not the best dad in the world you know!" I’ll never forget what he said. He looked at me and said, "I may not be the best dad in the world, but I’m trying. I’ve never done this before and there is no manual for raising kids."
That was a rather heated moment and I regret what I said because my dad is an absolutely incredible dad! His statement, however, stuck with me. I’ve often wished, as a parent, that there was a book that explained everything there is to know about parenting.....or world hunger.....or financial decision making.....or how to build relationships.....or how to relax. Then it struck me: there is a book with all of those things in it - and more!
It’s the Bible.
I know, I know. It’s a boring book that was written hundreds of years ago. Right? How could it possibly be interesting? Let’s see......It is a book about seduction, hot sex with multiple partners, schemes to have a rival eliminated, incest, murder, mayhem, thievery, family violence, sexism, surrogate mothers, polygamy, religious intolerance, and bloody wars. In it’s pages you’ll find infertility, surrogacy gone wrong, jealousy, "cat" fights, exhibitionism, adultery, an unexpected pregnancy, a non-compliant husband, and premeditated murder. Nope, they just don’t write ‘em like this anymore!
But more than "excitement", there’s also some incredible insight into humanity, relationships, child-rearing, finances, sex and integrity. The Bible is a book of hope. And you know what? You don’t even have to believe in God to reap benefit from reading it!
2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.
A Bible that is falling apart is usually the sign of a life that isn't. So let me encourage you to pick yours up, dust it off if necessary, and begin reading it this year. I’d be happy to offer some guidance on reading it, if you’d like. And if you don’t have a Bible, let me know and I’ll give you one.
That was a rather heated moment and I regret what I said because my dad is an absolutely incredible dad! His statement, however, stuck with me. I’ve often wished, as a parent, that there was a book that explained everything there is to know about parenting.....or world hunger.....or financial decision making.....or how to build relationships.....or how to relax. Then it struck me: there is a book with all of those things in it - and more!
It’s the Bible.
I know, I know. It’s a boring book that was written hundreds of years ago. Right? How could it possibly be interesting? Let’s see......It is a book about seduction, hot sex with multiple partners, schemes to have a rival eliminated, incest, murder, mayhem, thievery, family violence, sexism, surrogate mothers, polygamy, religious intolerance, and bloody wars. In it’s pages you’ll find infertility, surrogacy gone wrong, jealousy, "cat" fights, exhibitionism, adultery, an unexpected pregnancy, a non-compliant husband, and premeditated murder. Nope, they just don’t write ‘em like this anymore!
But more than "excitement", there’s also some incredible insight into humanity, relationships, child-rearing, finances, sex and integrity. The Bible is a book of hope. And you know what? You don’t even have to believe in God to reap benefit from reading it!
2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.
A Bible that is falling apart is usually the sign of a life that isn't. So let me encourage you to pick yours up, dust it off if necessary, and begin reading it this year. I’d be happy to offer some guidance on reading it, if you’d like. And if you don’t have a Bible, let me know and I’ll give you one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)