Ever feel like you’re doing most of the work, even though you have a whole group of people who are supposed to help get the job done? Congratulations! You are part of the Terrific Twenty!
It is a well-known principle in business and practical sciences that for many situations, “80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.” In other words, the greatest results come from only a few members of the group. Does this sound familiar? Does the 80/20 Rule apply to your job, organization, or church?
Throughout the Bible, we see evidence of the 80/20 Rule in effect. In Matthew 9:37, we find Jesus telling his disciples, “…The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” Who are these workers? They are the ones who may sometimes feel overlooked or taken for granted. Is this you? Don’t feel defeated. Keep in mind that the laborer’s reward is great. Jesus tells the parable where the servant who worked hardest for his master received the biggest reward in the end. (Matthew 25:14-30)
So if you ever feel like you’re putting in a little more time or effort than most of the other folks in your group, the truth is that you very well may be. Of course, this doesn’t let the other 80 percent of the group off the hook. They have a responsibility to accomplish at least the bare minimum of what’s required of them. But prayerfully, you’ll find satisfaction in knowing that your great efforts have helped make a great difference.
I’m proud to be part of the Terrific Twenty. What about you?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Bold Enough to be Humble?
Why do people have such a hard time with humility? Is it that hard for us to get over ourselves?
How many times have you heard, “They didn’t know who they were messing with!” Or how about, “Do you know who I am?” Usually, these phrases are uttered with extreme contempt and a huff and a puff.
In society, we are taught to strive for the biggest, the best, and the shiniest. And we feel obligated to let people “know who we are,” in any way we can. We do this by indirectly (and sometimes boldly) saying things that imply:
• “I’m better than you.”
• “I have more than you.”
• “I’m more important than you.”
Personally, I believe that the person who really has the most is the one who has no problem with being the least among others. The purest example of humility of all is that of Jesus, whose very existence on earth was devoid of any luxuries or conveniences. He had no big car, no nice house, no fancy robe, or anything. In fact, in Luke 9: 57–58 we find that, “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ ”
As followers of Christ, we don’t have to rely on material things to prove our importance. Our treasures are spiritual and our importance is in Him.
I want to choose humility. What about you? Click on the word "comments" below to leave a comment!
How many times have you heard, “They didn’t know who they were messing with!” Or how about, “Do you know who I am?” Usually, these phrases are uttered with extreme contempt and a huff and a puff.
In society, we are taught to strive for the biggest, the best, and the shiniest. And we feel obligated to let people “know who we are,” in any way we can. We do this by indirectly (and sometimes boldly) saying things that imply:
• “I’m better than you.”
• “I have more than you.”
• “I’m more important than you.”
Personally, I believe that the person who really has the most is the one who has no problem with being the least among others. The purest example of humility of all is that of Jesus, whose very existence on earth was devoid of any luxuries or conveniences. He had no big car, no nice house, no fancy robe, or anything. In fact, in Luke 9: 57–58 we find that, “As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ ”
As followers of Christ, we don’t have to rely on material things to prove our importance. Our treasures are spiritual and our importance is in Him.
I want to choose humility. What about you? Click on the word "comments" below to leave a comment!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Cutting Both Ends of the Ham
Sometimes we do things a certain way just because that’s the way we’ve always done them. Every now and then it’s worth taking time to stop and assess our actions. My former pastor, the late Rev. John E. Sharpe, used to tell the following story:
During a family holiday gathering, there was a woman in the kitchen who was busily preparing the meal. She took out the ham and lopped off the front and back ends before placing it in the large baking pan.
“Mom, why do you always cut both ends of the ham?” her daughter asked, after observing the ritual. “Well, that’s funny,” the woman said, “I never really thought about it. It’s something my mom always did.” Just then, the woman’s mother came into the kitchen for a glass of water. “Grandma,” the youngest woman said, “why is it that you always cut both ends of the ham before baking it?” The oldest woman thought for a moment and said, “Well, that’s the way my mother always did it.”
At that very moment, the matriarch of the family entered the kitchen. “Great-grandmother,” the youngest woman said to her, “We were just wondering. Why is it that you always cut off both ends of the ham before you baked it?” Without hesitation, the eldest woman present said, “Oh, child, that was because my pan was always too small!”
Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees for doing things out of tradition and ritual. He wanted them to understand that their intentions were more important than their practices (read Matthew 6).
As followers of Christ, let’s examine our actions and act consciously. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!
During a family holiday gathering, there was a woman in the kitchen who was busily preparing the meal. She took out the ham and lopped off the front and back ends before placing it in the large baking pan.
“Mom, why do you always cut both ends of the ham?” her daughter asked, after observing the ritual. “Well, that’s funny,” the woman said, “I never really thought about it. It’s something my mom always did.” Just then, the woman’s mother came into the kitchen for a glass of water. “Grandma,” the youngest woman said, “why is it that you always cut both ends of the ham before baking it?” The oldest woman thought for a moment and said, “Well, that’s the way my mother always did it.”
At that very moment, the matriarch of the family entered the kitchen. “Great-grandmother,” the youngest woman said to her, “We were just wondering. Why is it that you always cut off both ends of the ham before you baked it?” Without hesitation, the eldest woman present said, “Oh, child, that was because my pan was always too small!”
Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees for doing things out of tradition and ritual. He wanted them to understand that their intentions were more important than their practices (read Matthew 6).
As followers of Christ, let’s examine our actions and act consciously. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Plane Talk
My husband’s grandfather used to say, “Never withhold a word from a person. One word can change someone’s life.” I think there’s a lot of truth to that.
I was on a flight recently from Dallas to Newark, and sitting in the window seat, I was resigned to simply doing a Sudoku puzzle to pass the time. Turns out, my neighbor in the middle seat was an avid fan of the game, as well, and we began talking. The conversation flowed easily and went from puzzles to other topics, such as family and values. I learned that my neighbor was a man of the faith. And as we talked about religion and Biblical principles, there were so many areas in which we wholeheartedly agreed.
If the story ended there, I think there would be no need to continue to blog about it. But the most interesting thing happened. As we talked about society and culture, we found that we had very different perspectives in some areas. And it led to a very healthy debate about issues such as abortion, race, and politics.
Now the last time I checked, there were certain issues you don’t discuss in mixed company. I think we covered them all! And our somewhat private conversation began tickling the ears of our other neighbor in the aisle seat. Soon, he was fully engaged in the conversation. And we realized the significance of our interaction. The three of us were different across so many lines: racial, gender, religious (our neighbor in the aisle was Jewish), socio-economic, and political. Yet, we were able to hold an honest conversation with one another without being “politically correct,” but respectful of each other’s point of view. By engaging each other’s differences, I believe we each carried something away to share with others in our lives.
The Bible tells us to be open to engaging one another. Hebrews 13:1-2 reads, “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
I believe we need more open dialogue. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!
I was on a flight recently from Dallas to Newark, and sitting in the window seat, I was resigned to simply doing a Sudoku puzzle to pass the time. Turns out, my neighbor in the middle seat was an avid fan of the game, as well, and we began talking. The conversation flowed easily and went from puzzles to other topics, such as family and values. I learned that my neighbor was a man of the faith. And as we talked about religion and Biblical principles, there were so many areas in which we wholeheartedly agreed.
If the story ended there, I think there would be no need to continue to blog about it. But the most interesting thing happened. As we talked about society and culture, we found that we had very different perspectives in some areas. And it led to a very healthy debate about issues such as abortion, race, and politics.
Now the last time I checked, there were certain issues you don’t discuss in mixed company. I think we covered them all! And our somewhat private conversation began tickling the ears of our other neighbor in the aisle seat. Soon, he was fully engaged in the conversation. And we realized the significance of our interaction. The three of us were different across so many lines: racial, gender, religious (our neighbor in the aisle was Jewish), socio-economic, and political. Yet, we were able to hold an honest conversation with one another without being “politically correct,” but respectful of each other’s point of view. By engaging each other’s differences, I believe we each carried something away to share with others in our lives.
The Bible tells us to be open to engaging one another. Hebrews 13:1-2 reads, “Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
I believe we need more open dialogue. What are your thoughts? Leave a comment!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
I’m Not Doing That!
I developed a bad habit. I became quick to say what I would or would not do.
In my defense, I had formerly been the person who said, “yes” to everything. Want me to watch someone’s ill-behaved kids for a few hours? “Yes!” Want me to loan out a few dollars that will never be paid back? “Yes!” Want me to volunteer my time to do something that no one else wants to do? “Yes! Yes! Yes!” It became so overwhelming and cumbersome that one morning, I woke up and decided, “I’m not doing that!”
No longer did I sign up for things that required more time and energy than anyone else was willing to contribute. No longer did I go out of my way to help people who were helpless all the time. No longer did I do anything that I didn’t feel like doing. But did I become a better person for it? Not at all. Because I had gotten so good at it, that even when the Holy Spirit gave me direction, I said, “No, I’m not doing that!” That led to massive disobedience on my part and major consequences for me.
I tried to justify my new behavior by pleading with God that my “Yes!” mentality was problematic. People were taking advantage of me left and right. Then I was reminded that the Bible tells us that if our brother takes advantage of us, we are not to withdraw our efforts or hold back our love toward him. That’s the spirit of Luke 6:30–31 which says, “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When it comes to our time, our energy, and our resources, we are to be always willing to give as Christ has always given – and continues to give – to us.
Turn down a chance to give? I’m not doing that anymore! How do you feel about giving? Leave a comment!
In my defense, I had formerly been the person who said, “yes” to everything. Want me to watch someone’s ill-behaved kids for a few hours? “Yes!” Want me to loan out a few dollars that will never be paid back? “Yes!” Want me to volunteer my time to do something that no one else wants to do? “Yes! Yes! Yes!” It became so overwhelming and cumbersome that one morning, I woke up and decided, “I’m not doing that!”
No longer did I sign up for things that required more time and energy than anyone else was willing to contribute. No longer did I go out of my way to help people who were helpless all the time. No longer did I do anything that I didn’t feel like doing. But did I become a better person for it? Not at all. Because I had gotten so good at it, that even when the Holy Spirit gave me direction, I said, “No, I’m not doing that!” That led to massive disobedience on my part and major consequences for me.
I tried to justify my new behavior by pleading with God that my “Yes!” mentality was problematic. People were taking advantage of me left and right. Then I was reminded that the Bible tells us that if our brother takes advantage of us, we are not to withdraw our efforts or hold back our love toward him. That’s the spirit of Luke 6:30–31 which says, “Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When it comes to our time, our energy, and our resources, we are to be always willing to give as Christ has always given – and continues to give – to us.
Turn down a chance to give? I’m not doing that anymore! How do you feel about giving? Leave a comment!
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