Critical Eye or Critical Spirit?

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One of the unfortunate side-effects of being human is the constant need to deal with one’s humanity…aka, the tendency to err. I recently made a statement that was less than wise…and, quite frankly, unkind. My background in theatre and event programming has taught me to look at things with a critical eye. Unfortunately, it is all too easy for that critical eye to give way to a critical spirit.

What’s the difference?

  • a critical eye operates in love…a critical spirit operates in pride
  • a critical eye offers solutions…a critical spirit only points out the problems
  • a critical eye sees the people…a critical spirit only sees the product
  • a critical eye builds up…a critical spirit tears down
  • a critical eye desires to make the ideas of others better…a critical spirit believes his ideas are always best
It is important to have a critical eye to continue to raise the bar of excellence and to empower others to reach past even their own potential. It is to your detriment, and the detriment of those around you, to operate in a critical spirit. Be careful to know the difference.

For me, this is a lesson learned the hard way.


Written by on December 6, 2011 and categorized under Impact, Innovation

Why Are You Building Monuments?

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Last year, my oldest son starting taking karate at a local dojo. A few months in, we attended his first tournament. Being so young, there wasn’t much to it for him…a simple obstacle course. But, at the end of the course, everyone who participate received a trophy. You would have thought it was Christmas. He loved that trophy. In fact, it still sits on a shelf in our living room to serve as a reminder of that first tournament.

Trophies of past victories are a good can be good…as long as they do not become the thing we focus on. I think of Peter, James and John when they were on the mountain with Jesus at the moment of His transfiguration. They witnessed the very glory of God…Jesus in all of His heavenly splendor. Their immediate response? They wanted to build a monument. I’m sure they had the best of intentions. But, the problem was they did not yet realize that while they had experienced the glory, they had not yet arrived at the victory.

Too often we let what God has done in our past keep us from what God wants to do in our future. We hold on to past victories and never experience ultimate victory. We cannot live in the past…bad OR good. Let past victories remind you of God’s faithfulness in the dark times…but don’t get so focused on them that you miss out on even greater glory.

 



Written by on December 5, 2011 and categorized under Impact, Individuality

Are You Only Half In?

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I can always tell when I only do something half-heartedly. There is a marked difference in quality and outcome. It would seem that you truly do only get out of something what you put into it.

I think about Joseph when he invited his brothers to dine with him after he is made second-in-command over all Egypt. Scripture tells us that all of his brothers received food from his table, but his youngest brother, Benjamin, received 5 TIMES MORE than anyone else.

It occurred to me that all of Joseph’s brothers were only half-brothers (same dad/different mom). They were only half in Joseph’s bloodline. Benjamin, on the other hand, was the only full brother Joseph had. So, while all of his brothers received a blessing…Benjamin, who was “all in” with Joseph, received much, much more.

You can have a relationship with Jesus and still only be half in. He has part of your life…but not this part or that part or the part you keep hidden away for yourself. Sure, your life will be blessed because you have an inheritance in the Kingdom. But, it’s only when we are all in…only when we are completely surrendered, that we truly experience the fullness of God’s blessing. I don’t know about you, but that’s where I want to live!

So what do you think? Are you half in? or all in?



Written by on December 1, 2011 and categorized under Individuality

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