November 20, 2004

• The past several days in "Better Together" have been about our relationships with those we have true fellowship with (i.e. our small group). It talks about the fact that we need to be encouragers, teachers, and people who warn our friends about trouble. I do love the part about encourging--I'm a big fan of encouragers. I need encouragers in my life! Everyone does! I hear criticism a lot-which I don't mind, becuase I am a learner, and I like to be challenged and given honest feedback-especially in my position as Music and Worship Pastor. So when I get good feedback, or encouragement that is sincere (not just doing it for the sake of doing it) it is nice.
  I'm sure that I'm not alone; I'm pretty sure that people all around the universe are like me in this way...so for that reason, I need to be a better encourager...sometimes I just neglect to encourage. It is one of my biggest weaknesses-something I need to do better in all areas of my life--family, friends, fellow ministers, etc...
  I remember my first and only May tour with the University Choir and Orchestra at APU (the other time I was in UCO, my wife was seven months pregnant by the time May came around, and I was unable to go on tour with or without her). Part of the way through the tour, I started noticing some of my compadres get a little homesick, and at the same time realized that there was a lot of negative talk around...these two things caused me to make a conscious decision to speak life into the people around me and to be a source of encouragement for anyone I could. I remember specifically some of the people that I took time to encourage--people on the PR crew with me...it was a thing that also helped me get my mind off how much I missed my sweetie, who was not on tour with me (btw, now she's my wife of 5 years!).
  anyway-encouragement is cool! I need to do that more!

  Clay's book is great! He is totally a Christian and talks about God all the time in this book. I've only read a little bit, but I love it!
  OH, and I re-claimed my title as Nertz King last night. IT WAS A BLOWOUT! No one was even close...

  • 11:04 am
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