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Bible reading for Aug 20.  I Samuel 12. "Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way." (1 Samuel 12:23) SAMUEL'S FAREWELL. Now that Saul is King, Samuel passes the executive authority of the nation over to him. He finishes with a good testimony and clear conscience. He will be, as it were, a Judge Emeritus. He will not disappear, however, for his priestly role will still continue, and his prophetic words -- including the writing of the first book of Samuel -- were still needed. He will be involved in praying for the nation and giving guidance from the Lord.  REFLECT. How important is it to you to finish well? For those of us in later years the role of prayer and godly counsel becomes ever more important. Samuel, like Anna many years later (Luke 2:36-38), becomes a guardian of the faith, a mentor, and a gatekeeper in God's household. Who are yo...

I have always profited from reading the letters of those who were good mentors.  I think of John Newton and Martyn Lloyd-Jones as examples.   Fred Smith, former Dallas businessman now deceased, apparently was a good letter-writer.  He wrote the following to a friend after a long conversation about a life crisis.  There's some very good counsel here from a man who was mentor to many.  I've highlighted some portions that spoke to me.   Dear Friend: You spoke of your struggle taking the advice of many as you make decisions and the guilt you feel when you fail.  You say over and over you want to do the will of God.  Let me think out loud with you on this. I firmly believe God has instituted processes that work and they don’t depend on doing what we cannot do.  He came to give us life “and that more abundantly” which I don’t think you are enjoying nor displaying.  It isn’t your unbelief but their unrealistic advice. I fully believe in...

Fred Smith on motivation. This applies to work, marriage, ministry or child-rearing... Many people think of motivation as a quick, easy blast ---- a shot to the solar plexus to spur action.  Not in my book.  I hear a lot about the time Knute Rockne stayed out of the Notre Dame locker room at half time until the very last second.  He then poked his head in the door and yelled, “Let’s go, girls!”  Of course this story is famous because the Fighting Irish went on to victory.  Somehow, I think this bleeds over into manipulation rather than motivation . What is the difference? 1. Motivation is the process whereby a mutual interest is developed between two people.  This is usually recognized by both as they work together for success.  Motivation involves a long-term healthy drive in a psychologically friendly atmosphere where people are developed, not used.  There are common goals and positive outcomes. 2. Manipulation is the process used by ...

Found some good reading this week online. First two articles on NT church leadership: "It is the view of the writers of the NT that Jew and Gentile united in Christ is the people of God, the royal priesthood, the chosen portion of God, and it is the job of all of us, all of us, to be a light to the nations, to be winsome so we might win some for Christ, to be priests offering this world and all that is in it back to God for as the psalmist says--- 'the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.' With the call to come to Christ comes a call to ministry, and it does not come to just some of us. It comes with the territory." From "Neither Clergy, Nor Laity" by Ben Witherington III . "It is clear from Paul’s letter to Titus that the church was not to be a chaotic mass of people without guidance or leadership." Reid Monaghan on elders, deacons and members. On parenting: "Why are kids leaving the church? The answer lies in paren...