Success at a price.

A lot of people have paid the price for success. "To whom much is 

given much is required." Many have come by success at no price. And
that success soon reveals it's own price to be paid.

All success requires a price to be paid. The question is which do you
want to pay?

Success at a fast pace often leaves no time for character to keep up.
The hard work of reflection is lost to the speed game of staying
ahead. If the success comes with no price, handed to you on a plate,
humility is lost and entitlement can become ones curse. Humility is
found at the feet of Jesus doing the hard work of reflection.

Success at the feet of Jesus is what opens the door to real leadership
authority. Humility and character are always the pillars of long
lasting success. They develop a person beyond a portfolio. They
paint the picture of personhood.

Which price do you want to pay for success? Short lived at the cost
of character or lasting at the expense of the hardest work of all,
sitting with Jesus?

Phillip Woody
phil@ridetheriver.org

Failure to try!

A Blog by LifeChurch.tv worth putting on my Blog!

The failure to try is one of the most common types of failure, and, in my opinion, one of the worst failures.  It is usually the result of a fear of failure or just plain laziness.

In December of 1999, I sold my last technology company.  Without going into great detail, selling the company at that time was a huge success for our investors and everyone involved.  However, as I drove home from our attorneys' office the night we finalized the sale,  I couldn't celebrate.  I began to be overcome with the fear of failure…I didn't know what I should do next and if it would be as successful.  It was so bad that it effectively kept me from trying anything new for the next several months.

I talk to so many pastors who are either living on yesterday's success or holding the pain of last week's failure.  What is unfortunate is that this fear of failure actually guarantees failure…the failure to try.  Over the long-term, it will almost certainly lead to a declining or dead ministry.

On our team, we ask people who are interviewing for a failure resume.  If someone cannot list several failures in their life, it is sometimes a sign that they fail to take risks or try anything new.

What are some things on your failure resume?  What tips do you have for overcoming the fear of failure?

The Gift of Grief

If you have ever mourned someone you would know that it is a journey
filled with emotion. Most of the time those emotions are dark and
deep matching the deep hurt your experiencing. Lost, anger, hopeless,
despair are some of these. How could anything like that be a gift
from God? When you can see what it produces.

Grief is a cry of the heart that lands heavy on all of those around us
who now share in our hurt. When the loss of someone dear becomes our
reality grief becomes God's gift to begin to fill the huge void that
plagues our soul. The beacon of Grief brings God's life through
people as they share in our pain. Grief has the God given potential
to restore families, build friendships, and produce joy when joy feels
lost. It is a gift.

Here is the kicker. Like every gift you have to be willing to receive
it.

God bless you Grandpa Meme, your life was meaningful and your death a
seed planted.

Conflict Resolution, A lost Art

Who taught you how to resolve conflict? The answer for most is both no one and everyone. We learn from watching and observing. Usually what we watch and observe from a young age is not healthy conflict resolution. Media plays a huge role as the #1 influencer of kids over parents and the church in society today. Now Rambo, and Judge Judy are our guides. Tell me that isn't scary. Here is a few thoughts when considering conflict that Rambo might not be teaching.

*It Requires emotional grit.
The ability to remain in the conversation when it feels your heart is being attacked.
*Emotional vulnerability. Risk.
Leaning that to hear someone else's heart you must be willing to lead with yours.
*Honoring your heart and honoring theirs. Both in mind.
Realizing it is not a battle to win but an agreement to find.
*A heart to hear as well as be heard/ to understand and be understood.
A willingness to listen first and lead with questions without making to many assumptions.

Here is a scripture that may help: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Philippians 2:3

That verse lived out has the potential to see the lost art found again.