Thoughts on John Wesley, UMC, life, faith, and anything else!
http://bible.us/Ps84.10.NLT A single day in your courts
is better than a thousand anywhere else!
I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God
than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
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The Psalms never cease to amaze me. Mostly because I believe that the Psalmists were being honest. When this Psalmist says he would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of God than to live the good life in the homes of the wicked, I believe that is how he felt.
Let nothing disturb you
Let nothing frighten you
Everything passes
God never changes
Patience obtains all
Whoever has God wants for nothing
God alone is enough.
~~ St. Teresa of Avila
St. Teresa was an amazing woman and Christian. Her passion for Jesus is inspiring. Someday I hope that I can truly say that God alone is enough.
I have a new love. McDonalds sweet tea. It is wonderful and well worth the $1. I’m not sure, but I might be a bit addicted. If that is possible.
I’ve read that the good things in life are placed there by God to help us look beyond the good to the perfect. Could sweet tea really be an avenue to draw closer to God!
I certainly hope so!
Adam Hamilton said something that really has caused me to pause and reflect. He said that successful (however you define it) pastors and churches are willing to do what unsuccessful pastors and churches are not willing to do. This seems to make a lot of sense. It is not only true of pastors and churches, but of musicians, athletes parents and students. Really it is true of just about everyone.
In the book Outliers Malcolm Gladwell discusses the very successful. Among his various observations is the ten thousand hour rule. Ten thousand hours is the time it takes to become successful. If you want to be a virtuoso, then you will need to practice around ten thousand hours Malcolm says. Sure talent plays a role, but the findings are that ten thousand trumps innate talent.
Successful people are willing to put in the time; in the gym, the practice room, the library, etc. The unsuccessful ones just are not willing to do so.
Perhaps one of the most productive things we can do is determine what we are not willing to do as individuals. Ten thousand hours is a lot of time. It takes most people about 10 years. I might not be interested.
What are we not willing to do as a church? The ten thousand hours may not come into play, but it is still helpful to know. Are you not willing to help in the nursery? VBS? There are things I’m not willing to do. Just remember though, the successful churches are those who are willing to do what the unsuccessful aren’t.
— Post From My iPhone
“Father in Heaven! What is man without thee! What is all that he knows, vast accumulation though it be, but a chipped fragment if he knows not thee! Thee the One, who art one thing and art all! So mayest thou give to the intellect, wisdom to comprehend that one thing; to the heart, sincerity to receive this understanding; to the will purity that wills only one thing.” – Soren Kierkegaard