Bick's Quicks

New Year's Resolution Fail

A lot of people I know are anti new year's resolutions.  Our culture pushes back on commitment, discipline and hates failure.  Resolutions in and of themselves are good, it's the not being able to keep them part that creates our hesitancy in considering resolutions personally.

Jonathan Edwards writes this preamble before his list of seventy resolutions: 

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him, by his grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake

Edward's insight points out the reasons why so many fail.

1.  An underdeveloped theology of depravity: left alone to our own self efforts we will always fail in our attempts to reign in our sin and bad behavior-only through Christ are we set free to overcome sin.

2.  An air of self-sufficiency: our continued progress in the Christian life is sustained and strengthened by and through Jesus. 

3.  We make self-centered resolutions: our goals are often rooted and centered in self. It's logically inconsistent to think that a self-centered person can overcome their own self centered destructive habits by focusing on self, what sets us free is breaking the cycle of selfishness and following Christ's example. He came not to be served but to serve.

Looking back on 2009 I see that I need Edward's filter which points me to Christ as I compose my list for 2010.

Some of the Words heard in the Sermon Today

Jesus Grace    Gospel    Football Bug Zapper

Scholarship    Heresy    God Regeneration Bouquet

Salvation Glory Webster Groves Texas    

Hint Belief    Question    Snuggie    Christmas Hero

Defeat    Dr Pepper Sewer    Ice    Victory    Faith

Believe Truth    Love Commandments

A Strange View, A New Reality

 When our eyes met I could tell that we both were unprepared for this moment.  At once I realized that we had crossed a threshold; one in which those who had received care become the ones responsible to give it in return.  

The collision of thoughts and emotions in that instant were sobering.  This is how it might be-from this point on.  Mobility and freedom are gifts that are often taken for granted.  Driving, walking freely through your home or down the sidewalk on a warm day are not prized until they are inaccessible.  

Our worlds, his and mine are now in a new state of adjustment.  We will both walk differently in the days to come.  Both treasuring the steps we are able to take.

Non Agenda Relationships

The push-pull of relationships takes an emotional and physical toll that we don’t readily recognize, especially when those interactions are centered around getting things done. 

After a little self-inventory recently I discovered that all my interactions either required something of me or were focused on what I required of others.  Taking, giving, giving ,taking all the time = tiring.  My soul was/is yearning for a place, and some faces where I could simply just be present with no agenda.  

One of my mentors used to hold court on his front porch, watching the world go by, enjoying an IBC long neck and inviting those who passed by drop in.  His agenda?  No agenda.

When it was my turn on the porch our casual conversations took the most interesting of turns.  Our discussions meandered through insights drawn from American History, observations about his dog Vern, reminiscing about my formative years as a “pre-person” in middle school, and the beauty of God’s creation and the value of the Scriptures as a window to God’s grace. 

Sometimes we just sat and said nothing.

I felt safe then. 

Free from the requirement to fill the silent spaces with requests or questions.  Free from the pressure to prove that I knew something or could at least quote someone who appeared to know something.  Free to sit and watch the world go by, to listen to the wind as it blew through the trees while the crickets sang songs in the dew of the early evening.

With soul and spirit strengthened from the silence and small talk we shared together I would make my way home refreshed, refocused and thankful.  For a God who loved me, and a friend who created space in which we could experience significant moments of nothingness.

Speed of the Leader, Speed of the Team

Look at any organization, family or church and you'll pick up clues about the leader--even though you may have never met them personally.

Is the environment ordered, purposeful and strategic?  That happens because of leadership energy, influence and effort.  

Is there a sense of instability, insecurity and drift? Find the leader and you'll find that their lives mirror what is displayed in the culture.

Leaders lead-the fruit of their leadership is always displayed in those that follow be it out of a willing spirit, the necessity of a paycheck or the bonds of blood ties.  

Followers may rise above the level of their leaders, but it comes either at a great cost or a great exodus. If you are the leader and you find yourself frustrated with your situation, your followers and your results-it's time for you to look in the mirror, own your part and stop blaming your results on teammates who just don't get it.  

Your people exactly where you have led them to be.