Ecclesiastes 12:10

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.   Proverbs 13:12     In the book The Fred Factor, the authors remark,  “ When people feel that their contributions are unappreciated, they will stop trying. And when that happens, innovation dies .”     Everybody needs a win from time to time. You can expect people to keep on going when they don’t feel they are going anywhere.  That's why it's a good idea when trying to develop a new positive habit that you don’t put the goal line too far away. Make sure you find a goal you can complete so you can have the will to keep going.     Too many times, in the church, good people give up not because they don’t think they are doing anything worthwhile, but because they see no hope/end in sight. Let’s not let that happen. Make sure we give folks something that a sense of completion that will encourage them to keep on.  

     Have you ever heard of synergy?  It is a term that comes from the Greek language that combines the words energy and partnership.  It is used several times in the New testament to describe people working together in the Gospel (Philippians 2:25, Philippians 4:3, Philemon 1:24, Romans 16:3, 9, 21, Colossians 4:11) or thing workings together (James 2:22, Romans 8:28)       The idea is that we can do more together than we can do alone. The work of two is multiplied rather than combined. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 describes this effect, “ Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken .” ...

Monday Morning Scattershooting  while wondering if we say e very cloud has a silver lining. Tell me again how a silver lining helps me?  One thing I have learned is people are often more comfortable and responsive in a personal bible study with a member than they are with a preacher. It may be that perception that it’s the preacher’s “job” to teach while it is more personal when it is just an "ordinary" person. It makes me wonder if we should think about this in other areas as well.  One of the most unique differences about the church of Christ compared to denominations is that the true leaders are the elders and not a singular “pastor”. Elders are not “professional” pastors, as the world perceives pastors.  They are truly shepherds that live among the sheep.  I think most folks would be shocked to find out a church where the leaders are not in it for the money or title but rather to serve for the betterment of others.  In a world that sees mi...