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Wichita, KS 67203 - © 2009 Olivet Baptist Church,
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I was having breakfast with one of my accountability partners, Terry Williams, early this morning at Panera. Terry has just returned from five months in Iraq serving as an Air Force chaplain with a group out of McConnell Air Force Base. It was the first time we had seen each other before his deployment.
After catching up on what had been going on in our lives and our families over the past five months we began to wax philosophical. We talked about things that life has taught us through the years and how we have grown. As I left our meeting I was thinking as I drove to the office of some of the things I have learned over the past thirty-six years. Here are a few snippets of “wisdom” I have gleaned on the journey:
1. The more I have learned about God, the more I realize how little I really know about Him. He is always bigger than the “box” I sometimes try to fit Him into.
2. I have learned that there is no sin so big that it is beyond God’s ability to forgive (when there is true repentance)! That one is really profound!
3. I have learned that there is nothing anyone can do to offend me that comes anywhere close to how my sins have offended holy God.
4. I remember being Olivet’s resident “expert” on teenagers while I was doing student ministry here. When I finally became the father of a teenager I realized how little I really knew. I “apologized” to the church one Sunday morning years ago and that got a big laugh from the congregation.
5. I have learned that people are always more important than projects.
6. I have learned that sometimes good people will disagree with me - but it is not a test of fellowship when we don’t agree.
7. I have learned that there is no greater ministry in my life than my family. If I lose them I have nothing to give to the church.
8. I have learned that accountability is indispensable for spiritual growth and maturity. Without someone speaking the truth in love to our lives we will probably never mature in our faith.
9. I am learning that pleasing people is practically impossible and that I should focus on pleasing God. This is a tough one to remember!
10. I am remembering how much I love the people I pastor and how privileged I am to serve you!
Just a few thoughts that came to my mind after breakfast with a good friend.
