Big Decisions and God's Best

Have you ever had a time in your life where the stars seem to align and you think this could be it? Maybe you are looking for something, a job, a new house, a girl/boy, but when that something comes around you know it is not the best, this is not for me…there is something better for me out there. Or maybe it is the best, but not the right time for the best. Anyway you look at it these can be very interesting times. What if you’re wrong? What if this is the best and your expectations are just off the charts high? What if it is time and that feeling in your heart is the chili dog from lunch. How do you approach such times, what do you do when GREAT and just slightly GREATER come your way? I have had this happen a couple of times in my life, and there are some basic principles that I use to make these type of decisions.
1. I pray about it like there is no tomorrow!
2. I read God’s Word a lot!
3. I seek counsel from people who have been there and done that.
4. I try to approach it with a neutral will in the matter.
5. I listen for God to speak through His Word, prayer, super-natural circumstances, and His people.
If these last four align, the stars are aligning and God is saying this is what is best. If you are facing a big life decision I encourage you to do these five things and see if you don’t experience God’s very best.

4 Points on Leadership by a Great Leader

1. Selflessness: people want to follow a leader who puts the mission and others in the unit first... people can see right through a selfish, careerist oriented boss.
2. Self-discipline: to achieve excellence takes much self discipline... hard work, not cutting ethical corners, physical conditioning, secondary education, etc. requires "SD"
3. Moral Courage: leaders must have courage to make tough decisions... decisions about people and decisions that others may disagree with.
4. Mentor and be mentored: the great leaders I have read about, all had folks who they learned from... Proverbs says wise men listen to advice and seek understanding.
Written by Don Bacon

The Church at Starbucks

Something has been stirring in me lately. As most of you know I hold a part time job at Starbucks. I mostly open, and usually with the same core of people. I truly love these people; I can say that I sincerely care about their welfare. I also believe they feel the same way about me. I suddenly find myself looking forward to work on more than usual on a very consistent basis, not because I love coffee, because I actually despise it, but because the family that we have developed in the mornings. It’s not just the openers though as we held Starbucks party here at my house on Thursday we interacted as family. When it got down to the last 8-10 of us we had the most fun as there is something to that smaller group feel. My thought here is not how Great the people I open with are, or the people in Starbucks in general, although they are a great bunch, but my heart is towards the church. To be honest I have rarely experienced this kind of family in the church. I long for and encourage it, but it is hard to find. When I think of my Starbucks family I am reminded of my church youth group days. I was a part of a group that had a bond, fellowship, and an honesty that I have rarely seen in my experience in the church. We exploded, and as we lost that, we lost the group. I guess what I am trying to say is people are looking for this, I am looking for this. I am looking for a people that are so sold out to Jesus that they are also sold out to each other and before you know it your family. I think people are looking to join a cause like that.