This morning we had a special guest, Scott Sullivan, speak during our normal Tuesday morning meeting. Sullivan was a pitcher (one of those great “submarine pitchers” I love to watch) for the Cincinnati Reds (1995-2003), Chicago White Sox (2003), and finished his career with the Kansas City Royals (2004). As usually is the case with those who have been through the riggors of MLB, he had quite a story to tell, but he made the point that we all have stories to tell, good and bad.
What many of these stories have in common is where each of them were in their life during their career and where and how God has taken them to the point where they are right now. All of us are always a work in progress but through circumstances and situations in each of our own lives, we have made it to the point we are today. The question is what are we going to do with the time we have left? Sullivan suggested a book that has meant a lot to him, Stu Weber’s Tender Warrior, and left us with three questions to think about and discuss. They are:
1. What is Your Story?
Each of us has a story if we are still living and breathing. If you are a Believer, that story is called your testimony, and as a Believer, each does have a testimony. Have you ever written down your testimony? Some may scoff and write down a few brief sentences, but some of us took many years to come to our decision and our testimony is not just one event or thing that happened, it is years of work and living that got us to the point we are at today.
If you are not a Believer specifically, you still have your own story to tell. What has shaped your life up to this point. Is it people, friends, family, where you live, how much money you have or don’t have, what car you drive? I would encourage each of us to put some thought into what exactly is our story. What were the specifics that got us where we are today.
2. What Do You Want Your Legacy To Be?
Each of us will leave a legacy in one form or another. We may not have a sphere of infulence like a major league ball player, politician, or holywood star, but each of us will leave behind the story of our life. What do you want that to be? Do you know? If you do, how are you moving in that direction to fulfill that part of your life.
3. What is Your Plan to Finish Strong?
None of us are destined to stick around for very long. Some longer than others but either way, we are not long for this world. How can we finish our lives out strong. Do we have a plan, or do we care? I think it may be harder for those of us who are for the most part healthy, relatively young-ish (maybe at heart), and feel like we are full of life to really appreciate the time we have left and make a conscious decision to finish out strong.
I think about Richard Quick and what he is going through right now in his fight with a Malignant Brain Tumor, or my mother-in-law who did the same thing. What is our plan to finish strong and live the rest of the life we have been given with conviction, purpose, and with a plan, to at some point hear what Jesus said in a parable in Matthew 25 where He said:
His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
Thanks Scott for making your way over to our side of the world (funny how these Tuscaloosa, Alabama people end up down here in Auburn, and we are thrilled) and thank you for giving us a few words of encouragement to think about.
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Here we are another 24 hours has gone by and the 24 Hours of Wise Words, Rusty’s Challenge from Rusty is over for the sake of this blog post. As far as the meaning in our lives and how we treat others, this should continue and be a part of our persona as we grow in our Christian walk.
A Reflection on How I (We) Did
I will have to say if you didn’t participate or haven’t tried doing this yet (using wise and kind words all day), it is far harder than you might think. I can’t say that I went the entire 24 hours without an unkind or unwise word, but, I can say it made me much more cognizant of what words I do use.
Doing this little exercise did make me examine the words I use, or was going to use, and how they might effect those I was speaking to or about. It showed me where I was building others up, and in the process of tearing them down. There were several others (@hspur, @mandycon, and @bslash) who followed Rusty’s suggestion and if you followed us on Twitter you could see the progress we made and didn’t make in real time. If you didn’t, I think the others would tell you it was a good 24 hours of self examination of words and heart.
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This is my installment for the Blogger Small Group post and there is still time for anyone to join in if they like (see Blogger Small Group Rules/Guidlelines). Right now we are three weeks into a study on James, not need to try and catch up, just start in the same place we are and post your opinions.
The section this week really blew me away since we started a new series this past Sunday called Speak, see Acceptable Words in Your Sight, chosen to be James, Chapter 3. Strange sometimes how all different aspects of your life can fit in together with seemingly separated people or topics.
Great choice for this week, and I am already looking forward to the next week. If you would like to join in just visit the link above from Vagabond.
From the Book of James, Chapter 3
This chapter has two distinct sections, The Tongue Is a Fire and Wisdom from Above. I post my a little different, I will look at the section as a whole and not break down each individual scripture, but there are several others on the list who do a GREAT job at a scripture by scripture post.
The Tongue Is a Fire, Chapter 3: 1-12
This section was just incredible since it is our current study series at our church. All about speech, how we talk to each other and to God. In this section, we are told how bad that tongue or our words can be if we are not careful and watch what we say.
I have read the first verse many times, but it is always a wake up call to anyone who thinks being a teacher is an easy job, or is one we should take lightly ourselves. Who are the teachers by the way? Aren’t they someone who other people learn by? Do you write a blog? We need to be careful, we are all teachers of some kind, and to read this:
1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment
Now, I am not sure exactly what a stricter judgment is, but that opens my eyes. What I have taken from this verse is that we should be very careful of what we are teaching. Are we falsely leading people with our actions, do we deceive people with using scripture out of context or inappropriately?
All things I try to keep in mind when we are instructing others, or even writing a blog post. Someone, someday, might actually read that blog post, I hope mine are inline with God’s teachings.
The rest of this section goes on to talk about how the tongue is such a small part of the body, yet, one of the most powerful tools. It can boast, lie, build up, correct, and defile our whole body. The memory scripture we are using at our church this next few weeks is Psalms 19:14
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Incredible how appropriately it fits here with James 3.
Wisdom from Above
The next section is very interesting and deals with our behavior, specifically with wisdom. Wisdom from here on earth is said to be natural and demonic. It refers to selfish ambition and jealousy, and explains how these things will cause disorder here on earth.
This is one of those verses that we can read, understand, and doesn’t take to much to thought to know what James is referring to here. We all know what these two particular actions can do, yet we all do them anyway. We live here on earth, and ambition is almost a part of our American heritage (for those of us here in the U.S.). Trying to put ones self aside is not easy, but something to strive for each day.
Don’t forget to go read the other group posts and comment there as well. I appreciate your comments and look forward to next weeks lesson.
