Scars! They are marks that don't easily go away that mark great trama. I have around 11 of them from one surgery. On a really good day, I sometimes forget that I was under the knife but then, at night, I look down and it all comes back to me. Some scars are inflicted by others. Some are self-inflicted. The are all life changing. It's all in how we react to our scars. They can re-organize our priorities for good or for bad. I need to not forget my scars. Let them re-organize my life and make me serious about what counts. I know people with self-inflicted scars that have and will re-shape their lives for ever. They are different people now. This can be a good thing if we let it.  ¶ 11:52 AM 0 comments

  My own funeral I attended my own funeral recently. Or at least it feels like I did. And it was great! Back in January, I had major heart surgery. The kind that sneaks up on you and that in retrospect, was life threatening. I didn't think of it much at the time, but sometimes when I feel the lingering soreness from surgery, I think about laying onconscious on a table, surrounded by strangers, chest cut (sawed) open, and a machine keeping me alive. Yuk! But God was good and I have had many encounters with friends in the months that followed. Almost everyone asks how I am doing and I get the praise God all over again. Some very closed friends made a point to call to express their appreciation. A few weekends ago, I was able to return to the church where I ministered (on staff) for 11 years. Again, I found myself the subject of embassaring appreciation. I guess I could view these as living "eulogies." An idea that both sobers me and encourages me. Perhaps we need to talk about death more. In this age of "nothing is truth" and of such great diversity, death is the one true thing we all hold in common. And not facing up to that fact is just plain foolishness.  ¶ 11:25 AM 0 comments

  Leaders

What makes a good leader? Are leaders made or are they born? Countless books have answers that dissagree with each other. I don't know either but here are some observations...

- Leadership is relative. Some people can lead people. Some can lead leaders. Some can lead leaders of leaders.

- Leaders win. This one appears pretty hedonistic but leaders that we all talk about win. Would we be quoting Abraham Lincoln if he had lost the civil war? Football games may be played by two very equal teams with the lead changing often but the team with the most points at the whistle will stir great admiration for the teams leaders and coach.

- Leader change things. They care less about what you and I think than
about where we should all end up. It's hard to be a good leader and shrink away from change (or even conflict).

- Leaders think they are right. It's hard to lead without confidence in where you are taking people.

- Leaders are talented. There is usually something they are exceptionally
good at.

- Leadership changes. The airplane had a lawyer, a business man, a professor, and a bushman as passenger. The "professionals" pretty much ignored the bushman until the plan crashed in the jungle. The bushman quickly became the leader. Different leaders lead and different times.

  ¶ 2:06 PM 0 comments

  Wisdom

King Solomon new that the most valuable thing in the world is wisdom. The apostle James wrote that if we want wisdom, we should ask for it. Proverbs says that the begininng of wisdom is to "get wisdom."

The very choice to pursue wisdom is wise. So start early, persist, and as you grow and gain experience people will notice your wisdom and seek you out.

1. Learn to listen. This is a serious discipline that take work to master.

2. Avoid defensiveness. You will not become wise if you are easily
offended.

3. Value criticism. Flattery almost never leads to wisdom. You critics, even those with bad motives, can be you best teachers if you can handle it.

4. Value failure. If you are truly seeking wisdom, failure can be a wonderful teacher. I don't know of any truly wise people that have never failed.

What do you think?

  ¶ 1:51 PM 0 comments