Executing Past our Failures

Hi friends,

 

Thanks for your continued ministry, service, and leadership in small groups and through our church.  I have a question for you: Is violence a health-hazard?  Deborah Prothrow-Stith thought it was.  Deborah was a nurse who found herself sewing up a combatant late one night at the ER of Brigham Women's Hospitalin Boston.  The combatant, not yet 20 years old, told her not to go to sleep, because the other guy would soon be in to see her.  It struck Deborah that she needed to do something about this possibility.  She saw the connection between violence prevention and health care.  She proceeded to work tirelessly to apply for grants, develop proposals, and create action steps to merge these field, yet her colleagues just would not see the connection. 

 

The story comes from (and is continued by!) Frans Johansson in his book, "The Medici Effect."  What Johnasson found and uses Deborah's story to illustrate is that past failures are essential for future success.  In fact, Johansson argues, the more ideas you execute, the better chance you have to come up with something really special.  Too many times, he writes, we limit ourselves by strategy--the whats and the hows have to be "just so" before we proceed.  In contrast, he highlight Deborah who kept launching ideas into reality until it finally stuck and her desire to bring reform to violence prevention and health care was realized.

 

Friends, as God puts people, ideas, ministries, and opportunities to serve on your heart, don't be afraid to fail.  I admit the idea scares me because failure hurts.  I remember failing to make a basketball team once when I was in High School.  My Dad told me, "Don't be afraid to go through life without getting your uniform dirty."  As you lead in discipleship ministries, some of your ideas won't work out; some of the people you invite won't come; some of the groups you lead will fall apart.  But having a dirty uniform, pushing through failures, is the price (and reward!) of ministry.

 

I am so glad to serve with all of you and pray for your groups. 

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron

Correction

That is actually "The Rage Against God" by Peter Hitchens.  Be careful when you give the wrong book title, too, apparently.

 

Peace,

 

Aaron

The Power of Influence

Hello friends!

 

I am currently reading "The Rage Against Atheism" by Peter Hitchens.  Peter is the brother of noted atheist Christopher Hitchens.  One sentence stuck out to me: "Those who write where many read, and speak where many listen, had best be careful what they say."  Hitchens was cautioning people in the position of influence.  Friends, each of you influence someone else.  Each of you influence at least one other person--and most likely several.  Your opinion matters.  Your voice matters.  Use it wisely; feed it well.

 

As always I am praying for you and your groups and the people you influence.  I love serving with you.  Please let me know how your ministries are going and how I can serve you.]

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron

The Spirit's in the Details

Hello, friends!

 

I love new ideas, big dreams, and visions.  I love seeing ideas, dreams, and visions come to reality.  I love being able to look back and know that God's will started as a seed-thought and grew into a Kingdom project.  However, there are little things that get in the way of ideas, dreams, and visions becoming reality.  More like a million little things.  We call them details.  Their reputation precedes them.  We say that the Devil is in the details.  However, when I think of small groups, I think otherwise.  It is not the Devil; it is God's Spirit.  The Spirit's in the details. 

 

As a small group leader, host or supporter, you know the details that go along with small groups: Constant emails, phone calls, invites; books to order, DVDs to watch; passages to look up.  Small groups make details.  But it is in these small activities that God's Spirit can so often be found.  The Spirit can make prep time a blessed time.  The Spirit makes even mundane communication blessed communication.  The Spirit makes phone calls signs of care and concern. 

 

Thanks for the consistent ministry you give in the details.  I pray God's Spirit make himself present to you in those times!

 

As always, I am here to listen and encourage. 

 

Grace and peace,

 

Aaron