Everybody Has a Story

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new dawn begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Having been in higher education my entire career and speaking with thousands of men and women across generations, I have two deeply held beliefs.
1. Everybody has a story. All of us have had times of great joy and sadness; we all have great victories and heart-crushing defeats; and we all have hopes and dreams.
2. We can learn something from everyone.

Now, before diving into what I actually want to share with you briefly this morning, I want to make one key point: to know someone's story and learn from them, we have to listen to them. And when I say listen, I don’t mean hear. We can hear a voice and not listen to the person. To genuinely listen to someone is a great gift to them, and you will be blessed beyond measure yourself.

I was reminded of the importance of my first point this past week – everyone has a story. And they all matter, by the way! I serve at an institution that has existed since 1830, and the building where my office is located was a home that a family lived in during the Civil War. There was a little girl who lived in the house with her family during the Civil War, and she kept a diary. From that diary, we have learned so much about what was going on in our community and what was going on in and around the house I go to every day. It is incredible, cherished by our institution and her family alike. But here is the thing: as a 12-year-old girl living in this house and writing in her diary in the early 1860s, she did not think it would have historical significance, or that people would so deeply value and appreciate it 160+ years later.

I had a similar “ah ha” moment at a previous institution. This was an academic health center where I served. At that time, I met physicians who were the first to have specialties like pediatric cardiology – they literally developed the specialty. Please think about that for a moment. I remember speaking with one elderly physician, and I asked him about the early years when this idea of pediatric cardiology was born. You could still see the pain in his eyes of the precious souls lost in the early years that he stated could easily be saved today. These physicians, similar to a 12-year-old little girl, did not see the significance in their story, in their life journey. They were just living life, doing the very best they could, and trying to selflessly serve others.

It was at that same academic health center that I first learned of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The course I cherished most was what they called “My Story.” The concept is for everyone to write out their life story so it can be passed down to their children, grandchildren, friends, etc. Many of those who participated in the course actually had the books bound. The books were priceless; they were the life journey of the one who had written it.

So where am I going with all this? I guess there are two things I really want us all to take away this morning.
1. As boring, routine, tiresome, or whatever adjective you might like to use to describe your life, I want to tell you it matters. You are so valuable, so precious, and you are irreplaceable. Sure, others can do some of the things you do; perhaps they can perform your work or whatever; however, nobody ever has been or ever will again be you. While I am sure that you have things you want to improve, change, etc. – we all do! – I simply hope you will be grateful for the life you have…I am! And please give some serious thought to writing your story…it matters!
2. I want to encourage you to take the time; actually, I want to encourage you to intentionally make the time, to listen to people’s stories. I’m telling you, having sat and listened to literally thousands of them, it will inspire and bless your soul! And in the process of having your own life blessed, you are offering another one of the greatest gifts we can give them; we are letting them know they matter.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for any of you. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

Why Not?

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! How is it possible that this is the last day of July? Wasn’t it just Christmas?

 

This morning I want to share a couple of quick thoughts and a quote.

 

Earlier this week our church lost a giant – a great man who served as one of our Pastors. His sudden death reminded me once again of the brevity of life. I don’t mean that as a point of sadness but rather a moment of inspiration to genuinely value and appreciate each day and to live them, one at a time, to the fullest.

 

Also, this week, during my prayer time, I was thinking about the Serenity Prayer. Here is the prayer:

 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen."

 

The part that convicted my spirit powerfully was “to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can.” Maybe it is just me; however, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about things I cannot change, and I forfeit the power I do have by not changing the things I can. Is it just me? I really have to get better at that!

 

Finally, I want to share this great quote from Steve Maraboli with you. It is titled, “Why Not You?” and it absolutely makes my spirit soar!

 

“Why Not You?

 

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

 

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?

 

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

 

Today, for many the burden of self-doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?

 

Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?

 

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?

 

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?

 

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

 

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

 

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, and so much more. Why not you?

 

Today is a new day!

 

Many will seize this day.

 

Many will live it to the fullest.

 

Why not you?”

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

 

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

What if?

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Last Sunday, at the start of his message, our Pastor, Steve Huskey, stated that as he was preparing his message, he thought, “What if thousands heard this message and really lived it?” I decided right then and there that I would do whatever I could to make sure the message got out. What if?!

We are in a sermon series we call God at the Box Office. The pastor will take the message from a movie and apply it to Biblical truth and principles. The first movie was The Mandalorian. Apparently, the key character in the movie is asked why he does different things, and he always responds with, “This is the way.” “The way” determines the way he lives his life.

Pastor Steve then beautifully and quite convincingly preached about The Way not being just what we believe, as disciples, but what we do. As he stated, “Believers believe, but disciples do.”

Now, before I go any further, let’s not get this twisted; as a Christian, I believe that you go to Heaven by accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. There is nothing to do but confess our sins, our need for Him, and to accept Him into our hearts. Jesus did all the doing to earn our way there.

Understanding salvation, how do we live? Pastor Steve made several great points:

• “Christianity is a way of living, and a way of loyalty to Jesus Christ as your Lord.”
• “Not just a list of things we believe, it is how we live.”
• “Believers don’t change families, lives, communities, etc., disciples do.”
• “How do you find any of The Way? Nobody can know what you think or believe. They can see how you live.”
• “I don’t care what you believe, I want to see how you live.”

Now there are two scriptures that I want to share with you – one Pastor Steve shared and one he did not.

The one he shared was Acts 9: 1 – 2 (NIV):
9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

Then he asked, “How would he know they belonged to the Way?” This is where the statement, “Nobody can know what you think or believe” just by looking at you; “they can see how you live.” A question worth asking: if someone simply watched the way you live your life, would you be convicted? Maybe more piercing to the soul; would you want to be? Just got real!!!

The other scripture that kept bouncing around in my mind during the whole sermon was one that has challenged me for years; James 2:18 – 19 (NIV) says,
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

It should be noted that this scripture comes from a section titled "Faith (belief) and Deeds." The fact that I believe in God does not make me any different than a demon…hits me every time!

Pastor Steve then shared several different codes for living as disciples. He pointed to the Sermon on the Mount, the 10 Commandments, Galatians 5, and The Didache. While I encourage all of us to be mindful of all these ways of living, I want to specifically highlight Galatians 5 and The Didache this morning.

Galatians 5:22-26 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

How are we doing? In viewing our lives, are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control present? If not, we may believe in Jesus; however, we are not following His example.

This is from THE DIDACHE: The Teaching of the Lord Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations, based on the Roberts-Donaldson translation. I am simply going to copy and paste Chapter 3.

Chapter 3.
Other Sins Forbidden.
My child, flee from every evil thing, and from every likeness of it. Be not prone to anger, for anger leads to murder. Be neither jealous, nor quarrelsome, nor of hot temper, for out of all these murders are engendered. My child, be not a lustful one, for lust leads to fornication. Be neither a filthy talker, nor of lofty eye, for out of all these adulteries are engendered. My child, be not superstitious, since it leads to idolatry. Be neither an enchanter, nor an astrologer, nor a purifier, nor be willing to look at these things, for out of all these idolatry is engendered. My child, be not a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Be neither money-loving, nor vainglorious, for out of all these thefts are engendered. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads the way to blasphemy. Be neither self-willed nor evil-minded, for out of all these blasphemies are engendered.

So Friends, what if we really lived as disciples of Jesus, not just believers? How different would our lives, families, communities, etc. be? Counter-cultural? For sure! As I type that, Joshua 24:15 comes to mind:
15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Two cute/quippy little things have been coming to mind as I have been typing this message.
1. “And they will know we are Christians by our love.” Not by being right, angry, busy, etc.
2. A Christian person was telling another the joy of knowing Jesus, as having him as your Lord and personal Savior. The person asked, “Has your heart ever told your face?” Have you noticed how many Christians look dour all the time? Doesn’t look very appealing and is not representative of Jesus, who came that we may “have life, and have it more abundantly.”

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can contact me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

Kev