what would you do, if you could

A few years back I had a friend who was a youth pastor at a neighboring church.  He was part of our youth pastors’ network, and was someone I considered a friend.  In the course of conversation one day, I tossed out the question:

Would you attend your church if you weren’t on staff?

As the discussion rolled on, I made a comment along the lines of “I don’t think that I could attend a church that I wasn’t thrilled to be part of.”  I don’t remember too much more about the things that were said, but a few weeks later, my friend resigned from his church.  He pulled the plug, because he wasn’t jazzed about being part of the church.

That took guts.  His move showed integrity, and a strong belief in God as his provider, not his local church.

Dave Ramsey often tells people that if you don’t want to be broke, stop doing things that broke people do.  Change your life if you don’t like it.  If your marriage is bad, find someone who has a great marriage and spend time listening to how they made their marriage great.  Take responsibility for your life, and start working for change.

I’ve had this thought running around in my head for several weeks now:  If I don’t like my situation, I have to take an aggressive stance, assume responsibility for my life, and begin to work on a plan that will result in the situation that I want.

I believe that applies to everything–job, church, marriage, family, health, rest, friends, education…now the question remains:  What will I do differently to start moving toward my preferred future?  How risky will I be? How bold?  How courageous?

Let me be clear–I love my family, my church, and my town.  I would attend Calvary even if I wasn’t on staff.  I don’t know how I would pay the bills, but I’d still be part of our church!

For what it’s worth, I don’t feel worried about my future.  Maybe the words of Mick the Quick ring true:

“Ain’t no sense worrying about things you got no control over, ’cause if you got no control over them ain’t no sense worrying. And ain’t no sense worrying about things you got control over ’cause if you got control over them ain’t no sense worrying.”

— Mickey Rivers, major league baseball player, 1970 to 1984