Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Do we have the courage to dance alone?

While checking out facebook today I found this connection through Leonard Sweet. As you watch the video that is found on this page, consider the questions that are asked below about leadership. As ambassadors of Christ, sometimes we may feel we are dancing alone but in reality it might simply be that we are giving others the courage and empowerment to join us and to dance as well. What do you think? Consider the words of the song as well as the actions. I am amazed at how the initial folks walked to him but soon, as people experienced the excitement and joy from a distance, they began to run and wanted to be a part of it. How might we share the excitement we have for Jesus and the faith community in which we worship so that others might come running and when they get there, feel a part of something very special...

Monday, June 29, 2009

97 Pounds...how do we carry things?

Found this story on one of my daily devotionals "Mountain Wings" and wanted to share it...

97 Pounds
==========

It was a national holiday. I was at work; everyone else was off. It was one of those privileges of the boss.

The doorbell rang at the front door. I left my office and went to open it. It was a UPS driver.

"How many boxes do you have," I asked.
"Just one," he replied "but it's 97 pounds.

I told him that he could just drive the truck up to the front, and I could take the box off and leave it in the lobby. He then explained that the truck was dock height, and his back wasn't in good shape and that he didn't like to lift boxes from the back of the truck to the ground. I understood.

I then told him that we could just take it off and leave it on the dock, and I would bring it inside later. To open the dock doors required me to walk through the dark warehouse area, unlock the gates and open the doors so I just walked around to the dock area from outside.

As we both lifted the box he said, "I think they lied about that 97 pounds."

About 30 minutes later, I opened the dock doors and began to lift the box. It wasn't just heavy, it was awkward. You had to really spread your arms to get a grip on the box, and I could feel the pull on my back. I thought about the UPS driver's back and decided to get a hand truck.

I maneuvered the box onto the hand truck and rolled it easily into the warehouse. You could roll that reportedly 97-pound box with two fingers and absolutely no strain. I was amazed at the ease of movement with the hand truck versus pure muscle power.

God then spoke.
"That's the difference, when going through life, between a happy attitude and outlook and a sour one."

The same box, the same distance and the same result but a vastly different effort was required using my muscles or the hand truck.

Use the happy hand truck with your heavy loads.

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
(Mat 11:30 KJV)

~A MountainWings Original~

Forward this issue to a friend or send them the link below:
http://www.mountainwings.com/past/9180.htm