Priorities, Trust and Guns

I have a definitive life plan for at least one year.  Yes - God has the ability to change that plan if he wants to.  Yes - I am listening to him moment by moment.  But one of the things that he is saying every day is, "Stick to the priorities!"  The business nerds would say, "Major on the majors and minor on the minors."  They are right as long as you let God pick your majors and minors.

I am still having to major on a few "will be" minors until my role is finished.  I am still having to minor on a few "will be" majors until the minors become minors.  An example is the book "From Iron to Steel" that was supposed to begin publishing on May 7th and will now begin on June 18th.  It just can't be done.  I am 45 days late on the deadline for the third rewrite of "So You're Ready to Leave" (I am having a blast with this online book transforming to a full study and help book) because of old majors that I am trying to get to minors because they should have been minors in the first place.  Well drilling was a major to me and it should have been for the time but now it has become a minor and a wonderful woman has taken over all of its coordination.  A new well drilling truck needs to be driven to Nicaragua - cool trip - and I want to go.  Well only part of me wants to go because I am in love with the majors in my life.  On top of that, God is saying, "Priorities."  My accountability team (yes - I actually have a group of sold out brothers and sisters who are helping me by tackling me if I get involved in something new that is not a priority - you just have to know me - it is the hazard of a visionary and totally unacceptable)  didn't even have to say anything because I have been listening well to my Father and he is keeping me from a blindside.  The church and preparing the leaders and championing a great life for the people are my priorities.

The point is: you have to know what you need to do and do only that and do it before anything else.

I am still wrestling with identifying the things that I really can't control or, more importantly, am not supposed to control.  These areas require trust in a Father who teaches in the Bible or convicts in the heart "you aren't supposed to handle this one."  From my perspective, if people having a life change and having a great life is a priority, then they need to be at church at some point or involved with believers.  Therefore, it is incredibly difficult for me when after a few tries we can't get them involved.  Then God says, "If I can't get them there with my Spirit speaking or me using your voice, how do you think you are going to get them there?  And if you do, will it be right?  Aren't they supposed to choose me?"  Unfortunately, most chuches are trying to get people to choose church and are marketing that service well.  If we create people who choose God, what will they do?  You see, I have no control over this and I am not supposed to have any control.  Biblically, it is the Gospel that changes lives and carrying that to people is what I am called to do.  But, oh, do I want to get them to change.  There are many things that I can't control that simply require trust as I do what God tells me to do and be who he has made me and live according to His word.  He has told me to trust him regarding the finances for moving the well drilling truck, church and the summer missions.  He has told me to trust him change leaders and keep them steady if we require them to be the people in 1 Timothy 3 before we confirm them into leadership.  He has told me to trust him to continue a revival in our elders and put a fire of evangelism in our people.  If he can deal with someone like me, he will take these superior people and send them through the roof.

The point is: even in what He tells us to do, we have to trust him for the result. 

So that's it for priorities and trust.  What about guns?  In the Wild, Wild West, stupid men used to have testosterene overload and have gunfights.  Regardless of all the words, a gunfighter could back out at any point before he put his hands on his guns and drew.  I have learned this one important truth, when you step out into the street in leadership and draw on your opponent, you had better be committed.  You better stick to your guns and you better be prepared because there is only one opposing gunfighter and he is capable, well stocked and a good shot.  Even worse, he doesn't fight fair and will have many minions on the roofs and alleys drawing at the same time.  Being a leader is great.  Knowing what you are willing to die for is great.  Running is not an option once you step out in the streets.  You will either win or die.  Before you get in the game, be ready and be prepared to stick to you guns until the gunfight is over.