Calling yourself out

(Cricket....yup cricket)

Calling yourself out

Cricket is a sport that theoretically has some resemblance to baseball. I’ve read about it hoping to grasp some sense of what goes on but to no avail. I suppose the fact that the one person I know who actually grew up playing cricket says he can’t possibly explain it me should have been a clue. But even so, an article that took Team England player Stuart Broad to task for accepting an incorrect umpire’s call that went in his favor intrigued me. Apparently, much like golf, players are supposed to call themselves out even before the umpire makes a ruling.

“How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.” Luke 6:42

God asks you to call yourself out as well.  Too often we are happy to run down or pile on other folks who have stumbled.  We are equally slow to admit our own shortcomings.  But we are only in a position to truly help our brothers and sisters after we have admitted our own sinful nature.  We ought not wait for God to make it obvious. Listen to your conscience and make the right call.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 17

Minding your own business

(it's about what we do with what we can control)

Minding your own business

I was honored last week to attend a prayer meeting with a group of YMCA leaders from across the country.  We sang, we prayed, we shared joys and prayer requests.  An especially good word came from one of those in attendance.  He shared that for years he would attend large Y meetings and lament all the things that the Y movement at large wasn't doing.  "If only this or if only that" were his favorite phrases. Then God convicted him of his own shortcomings and those of the local Y he led.  In response he began to do God's work in earnest and to lift his own community in new and profound ways.

“You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat…So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.”  Romans 14:10-12

In the end we will be responsible for our own actions and how we used the gifts and opportunities God gave us.  What others do is of secondary importance. Rather than criticize, perhaps we ought to dig deeper and create maximum impact in our sphere of influence. Perhaps our enthusiasm will catch on with others and begin to create the momentum needed for change on a larger scale.   Our own obedience to God’s call may be just what it takes to move others as well.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 16

Purpose

(It's why we do what we do)

Purpose

There has been an interesting addition to the business lexicon recently: purpose.  Purpose goes beyond a vision or a strategy or a mission. It strikes at the very heart of why an organization exists…and whether it would be missed if that existence ceased.  Our company went through a lengthy exercise to examine our purpose and craft a statement for stakeholders to see and use to keep us accountable.  And yes, we believe people would miss the important work we do to lift communities and keep children safe.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, 
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”  Proverbs 19:21

What about individual purpose? I surmise we’ve all questioned our own worth, relevance and the purpose of our existence once or twice.  Who will miss us when we’re gone?  Does the work we do make an eternal difference?  These are important issues to grapple with…self-worth can be a key indicator of overall physical and mental health.

The answers to our questions really lie with our motivations, with the “why we do” more than the “what we do”.  Proverbs tells us that all our planning and preparation matters only a little.  What really informs our purpose is God’s purpose.   If we line up each and every day in concert with the direction implicit in God’s word, we can rest in the confidence that we matter a great deal.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 15