"If I fail, this will be the ruin of my life."
"My life is worthless if I don't make a success of this project."
"What will my family think if I fail?"
Our world is all about success. Each day our TV news and magazines remind us that the 'shiney' people are those who are on 'top of their game', make the most money, get the big contract and whose lives exude the colors of success.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are caught up in the rat race to be successful.
First of let me tell you about not being successful. I have been the pastor of four churches in my life time - taking up about 20 years of my life. Each of these churches is out of business. That's right, you heard me correctly - they are closed, out of business. It is true that they closed their doors after I left. But they were already in trouble when I left.
If you are the chairman of a search for a pastoral search committee, you probably don't want to look at my resume, never mind asking me for an interview.
Now let's do a reframe. While each of those churches is no longer in business, there were hundreds of lives that were positively affected by the ministry of those churches during my tenure as pastor. There are people today who serve as leaders and pastors in their churches who were trained and mentored by me during my time in those churches. There are people who are being faithful to their spouses and families who I counseled, married, and encouraged. There are people who are walking ethically and productively in their chosen careers who sat under my ministry. The institutions we call 'church' may be out of business, but the real church, the people of God, are being the people of God as described in the Bible.
So, what is this thing we call success all about?
It's a trap created by our media, society and family which can destroy our souls and our lives if we allow it.
Is it time to tell your lie, "I HAVE to be successful" to go to hell?
| | Posted by AZRON at 12:11 PM - | |
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I am successful. I don't make a lot of money, I don't have all the latest expensive toys. Trips to Cozumel, Mexico are NOT something I can afford. Yet, I still feel I am successful.
I have everything that is adequate for my needs and I have a family. I am happy, I am successful.
Sherry
You have wealth this world knows nothing about.
You have discovered the true secret of success.
You are blessed among the people of the earth.
ron
Yes, Sherry has gotten 'it'!
I can tell by the humor.
Some of the fondest memories I have of my childhood happened in, or around, these little 'Mom and Pop' grocery stores, where we used to hang out. None of them are there anymore, but they sure were successful. And not just because they were handy places to buy food. The people who owned them were our neighbors. It's not that way anymore.
Most of the churches here then, were located down town. Our down town died because of the Malls. Now they built a huge mega-Church out side of town. You get the picture? As brother Bob Dylan said: "The times, they are a'changin'."
Success can be measured in the light of new baby's smile.
Have a terrific weekend,
Joe
thanks for the observations.
Yes, where are the 'mom and pop' shops. We have a suburb here called Tempe, AZ - it is home to the Arizona State University - you have may have heard about it - it was where they played the Super Bowl once and of course, the Fiesta Bowl many times. The city fathers and mothers decided that they needed to bring in the fancy national restuarant chains - you know, the Ruby Tuesdays, the Chilis, etc. They zoned out by fiat all the mom and pop restuarants. I don't know about you, but when I go to a new town, I want to eat 'local' - you get my drift. I don't want to eat at some chain hamburger joint that I can eat at my hometown! There were some unique, downhom, eateries - all gone!
And about the mega church - well, we are in a little group who will meet in my backyard today and we will be church (doing church isn't in the Bible I read about).
thanks againfor coming by, Joe.
ron
I love the small groups who discuss nthigns, religion. I think the Bible, and God, are a fascinating talking. We always talk about these things when we get together.
I have an abounding faith. I love Jessu, and I have a God. How we
all feel about that is my fondest talk.
Take care, and lovde to you,
Joe
I think you and I could have some interesting things to talk about! You are welcome to stop by any time you are in the area :)
Hope your day finds you fine.
ron
Heard one the other day visiting my Protestant Mother-in-Laws current church. It was the premise that we all deserve a mulligan. As a golfer, you would know that after hitting your tee shot into the woods everyone pretends that it didn't happen and the current golfer can do the shot over. The premise the minister made was that we shouldn't have to account for misbehavior, that we can pretend it didn't happen.
If we ground our lessons public recreation and not the Bible are we apt to believe all is well, when it is not?
Glad you liked what you saw here. I hope what you read is helpful.
cheers.
ron
Yes, Jesus gives all of us a 'mulligan' - he died on the cross for our sins - and the Bible is true: "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgives us our sins." I John 1:9
I am glad that I can start my life over again anytime with Jesus.
It is too bad that so much of our concept of success is linked to material wealth and not to personal happiness.
Yes, it is sad that so much of our personal happiness is tied to wealth instead of personal relationships and circumstances.
thanks for coming by.
ron
Many of us seem to treat our sins the same way my brother treated his marbles. Our repentance is sufficient to get rid of most of our sins, those we consider the "big" ones. Yet because we enjoy them so, and because they are not what WE think of as "big," and besides cannot possibly hurt anyone but ourselves, we take our half-dozen or so favorite "little" sins and place them in our back pockets or our handbags. There we keep them safe and secure, ready to be pulled out and indulged in at a moment's notice, with no one but ourselves the wiser and no one but ourselves hurt by them.
If lives are lived with the false assurance that a day will come when we finally will have the courage to discard our back pocket sins, those practitioners are fools...
Whit: There is nothing wrong with happiness coming from wealth provided it is in the giving of it away that we spend our time doing. I recall the wealth Christ enjoyed, He gave it away. All of it.
I am not sure I would disagree with your comments. God is the judge of each person.
So each of us will answer to God.
Meanwhile, I am grateful for God's forgiveness for sins large and small. I am also aware that my daily actions should reflect that I am a follower of Jesus.
ron