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Inspired to Make a Difference - Write it - Do it |
If you heard even one story told by Doug Nichols last week and not in
the least bit moved, you may have to ask your doctor to verify your pulse. We
heard one story after another beginning Friday evening and culminating on
Sunday morning.
Your elders, staff, some leaders and spouses got to hear a few
more Sunday evening at dinner. Beth and I had the privilege of a more personal
time with Doug at breakfast Monday morning. If you get to remember or better yet,
apply at least one thing Doug shared, it would be worth it. I came away with
about 2 or 3.
You may have gotten more, but let me share mine with you. First, I was
intrigued when Doug said that his Bible reading does not count for quiet time,
it's just reading. He only said this in passing. It was not even a main point.
But that struck me. Time with God tends to become routine like anything with
which we are familiar. Unless a person spends an unhurried time with God in
prayer, listening, evaluating, examining oneself - then reading the Bible
through every year, while a very good practice, is just reading - except when
we're in tune and at the ready to receive from and connect with God in a personal
way as we are reading.
Secondly, the man knows God's Word. Doug's practice of reading the Bible
multiple times a year equips him with the appropriate and timely morsel from
Scriptures to address specific situations as life happens. This is more an
incidental point rather than one he talked about. Without putting a human being
on a pedestal, one ordinary life speaks volumes when placed in God's hands. I
am more inspired to read and even more so, to reflect long and often, any
specific truth from God's Word that may jump out of the page on any given day.
For instance, today (Wednesday April 8), my reading from Proverbs 12:24 says: "Work hard and become a leader; be lazy
and become a slave." (NLT). I don't see myself as a go-get-them kind
of a leader. But, my Tatay (Dad) certainly modeled hard work until his last waking
moment.
Instantaneous obedience is the third thing I learned from Doug. Barely
recovering from a round of chemo therapy while still coming to grips with his
mortality, he wastes no time and jumps on the next airplane to Rwanda during
the tribal genocide of 1994 when the Western world did not do a thing.
This past weekend, I heard my self restating my BHAG (big hairy
audacious goal). Before I die, the one thing I'd like to do is to establish a
school for elementary and high school students in a developing country.
Somehow, I know that if I want to turn this dream into reality, I must write
down this goal and be very specific about it. I need to jot down a step by step
strategy of how to turn these words I'm typing on my keyboard into an actual
brick and mortar school building filled with godly teachers and students in
some needy community.
Needless to say, God has to be in it, or I fail miserably. God gave me
one short life to live. The past weekend, one man, inspired me to make a
difference. How? I must learn to be in tune with God. I need His truth to be my
very life. I must do what I know to be the right thing that God has placed in
my heart. Anything short of these, is sin. I heard this quote from James over
and over this past weekend: "Therefore,
to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is
sin." James 4:17 NASB
So
help me God,
ricky
p. mapa, pastor
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