Ecclesiastes 12:10

  It's funny how two jobs that take the same amount of time, occur in the same conditions, and require the same amount of effort can be felt in two totally different ways. The mental approach will determine if it’s a joy or a burden, if it’s easy or hard, if it’s meaningful or meaningless.   Author John Maxwell described it as the ABCs of energy drain.         A ctivity Without Direction—doing things that don’t seem to matter B urden Without Action—not being able to do things that really matter C onflict Without Resolution—not being able to deal with what’s the matter   In the end, what matters is if it matters to us. We can handle the work, we will accept the burden, power through the problem, IF we can see the purpose to do so. Churches would be wise to consider this in the work they do.   Often, we have programs and activities, and we forget to emphasize and reemphasize the why we do it. As time goes by, the w...

   The climax of the book of Nehemiah is in chapter eight when Ezra climbs on a wooden platform and reads aloud to the people the book of the Law. The project of rebuilding the wall has led not just to a structural change in Jerusalem but a spiritual one as well. As the law is read and explained a sound breaks out. The people are weeping. Why? Because they had heard the law.   It is not hard to figure out why. As they listened people began to comprehend just how far they were from God’s plan. They needed to change. Soon they would be confessing those sins and making plans to set things right.  But not that day,    Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send porti...