Learn Something New

 2021 is quickly winding down.

Do you want to stay young between the ears?

Accept a challenge / Learn a new skill, or a new body of knowledge 

Don’t discount small beginnings! Take a step…just one, or maybe two. Repeat the steps, learning each time. Before you know it, they will become second nature…and you can move on. I learned to play the guitar just like this. I had minimal musical talent, but enough to keep time and stay on key. My dad gave me a guitar when I was in my thirties and told me to learn to play it. I did…for my own enjoyment. I started with 5 chords:  C, F, G, D & A. I played them until I could play them in the dark. You can play hundreds of songs with those 5 simple chords (F is a challenge for some). I will never be Chet Atkins or Glen Campbell, but I can play by the hour and sing along for my own enjoyment. It is very fulfilling. I am learning to cook the same way. I started with bacon and eggs, but I paid attention to detail and did them right. Now I can cook other things. It is enjoyable, and again, fulfilling. I will never beat Bobby Flay in a throw down, but who cares. I can cook some good stuff.

I am learning another skill…writing fiction! Many ask, “when will your book be finished?”  I get it, but its not like fixing your plumbing. I am learning what I am doing as I go. The answer is, “my book will be finished when I think I have learned to write in a style and with a skill someone might want to read.”  It takes time…the story is the easy part, learning the craft is a challenge. It took John Grisham six years to write his first novel, “A Time To Kill.”

Anyone who has learned to use a smart phone (get online, text, take photos, email and make phone calls) can learn most anything if you want to.  Don’t let your brain get old along with your body. Exercise it (my body could use some exercise, too). Learn something new...try it…take a few small steps. Don’t despise small beginnings! Who knows, someday you might be able to say, “let’s make that a true daily double.” 

Don't Sell Out

 

A major temptation and failure of those in ministry

There has been much said, written and graphic illustration of moral and ethical failures concerning those in vocational ministry.  Ministry, as I am using the term here, is specifically Christian vocational ministry; pastor, deacon, overseer, bishop, etc.).

            In my experience, I have seen people (men and women) in ministry stumble, fall, rebound, and perish over several issues.  You can pretty much boil it down to three categories:  Money, Sex & Power (Richard Foster wrote an excellent book on this very topic...with this title). I highly recommend it.

One area of failure that often goes unseen and is rarely addressed is selling ministry for money, or something that is profitable or a perk to the minister.  I have been tempted to do this myself. This is where you will give favors or ignore behaviors and activities because someone has something that would benefit you or has given you something of value.  In doing this, you lose your moral ground to be fair, impartial, and just with everyone.  Preferential treatment and giving undue favors will result. Things of value can be given generously and compassionately from folks with a benevolent heart, not because it buys something for them down the road.  Payback is not the way to do business. Keep your hand out of another’s pocket, even if they invite you to put it there.  Some folks will gladly give you things to be close to you.  It feeds the image they want to project to those around them. Don’t sell the ministry.  I have had many perks from people who are generous and want to give from their heart and their prosperity. That is not always wrong. Just make sure it isn’t for a future payback. I have taken trips, flown first class, enjoyed vacation accommodations, attended concerts, played golf on world class courses, eaten at fine restaurants, etc. All from folks who wanted to show appreciation and give me a special gift that I could never afford. It was always offered. I never asked for it. That is OK. Never have I taken anything that interfered with my ability to look at that person (or family) and say, ”you are wrong,” or “you need to confess and make this right,” and so on.  No one can look me in the eyes and say, “after all I’ve done for you, and now you say this to me.”  I can say anything that needs to be said to anyone because it is right, ultimately helpful and the loving thing to do. Don’t sell out.