Blessing, Bringing, Giving

When was the last time you went to "church"?  I am guessing for most of the people who will read this, it was within the last few weeks.  I want to ask you something, when you went - were you blown away by the power, presence and persistence of the good news of who Jesus is and what He has done for you?

For most of us, especially those of us raised in "the church", probably not.  We have grown numb to the truth and unaffected by the unimaginable power present within the life of a follower of Jesus who is filled with the Spirit of the Living God.

We go to church, play our part, drink some coffee, sit when we should, stand when we should and bow our heads when we are suppose to.  If we are really committed, we may even take some notes that will never be looked upon again and leave completely unchanged and unmoved.

But, what if, you weren't numb to the Truth?

As a matter of fact, what if you had never heard it before?  What if grace was a foreign concept for you and you had spent your life searching for something, but weren't sure what it was.

Would the place you last attended have felt differently? Would the words the guy on stage sang/spoke felt differently?  Would you have wished you had one of those "Bibles" everyone was reading from?  Would you have desperately wished when you read your Bible it made sense like when the guy explained it?

My family moved across the country, to reach a group of people who fall into that last group of questions.  The people we meet are not churched.  The relationships we are building are not birthed out of a fondness for Beth Moore or Francis Chan, but something else.  We are missionaries reaching out to an unreached people group right here in the United States.  Colorado is an amazing state.  We love it here.  The people are amazing, friendly, welcoming, relational and truly great!  But, they have not been introduced to the one whom they are longing for.  They search for truth in sports, exercise, food, drink, money, and many other things; all of which leave them just short of what they expected.

Waypoint Church (www.waypointonline.org) exists to help these very people find the Jesus they are searching for.  God has been doing amazing things in our hearts as He prepares us for whats next.  But, we need help!

We cannot do this on our own.  We don't want to do this on our own, because with all of our hearts we believe God is doing a GREAT work in Colorado, and has asked many to join in the labor.

We have outgrown our house, where we have been meeting since mid-September, which means we need to find a new place to gather on Sunday mornings.  Starting very soon, we will be gathering at Ponderosa Elementary School to worship on Sunday's - which means many things for our small band of believers.

1) God is blessing us with the opportunity to grow and develop as a young church in the city of Loveland

2) God is bringing together our very own A-team with the right gifting to help us be excellent in all that we do, because we realize that EVERYTHING matters ALL THE TIME - and we only get one chance with many people to blow them away with how awesome Jesus is!

3) God is giving you the opportunity to help!  With new space comes many new needs and we can't do this on our own.  We are in need of people to break out their checkbooks and debit cards and bless the work that God is doing through Waypoint Church.  We need $10,000 to be able to purchase equipment, signs, and children's resources to keep kids safe and offer a worship experience at their level.  We need you to give!  I believe, with all my heart that our God is able and eager to bless us, and those who are faithful, but we need to trust.


We have made it super easy to give, please just click on this link Just Give! and you will be able to give online right away.

Please help us reach this city.  Help us make a difference in an area where most people haven't yet had the opportunity to grow numb to the Truth of Jesus, and as you give, watch Jesus ignite a fire that burns away the numbness you've been experiencing.

Thank you for your help and prayers!

A bit of financial freakout....

While we are super excited about all that is happening in our lives right now - there is also a lot of faith and sometimes some freaking out that occurs in the Tyler household!

We are in the final days of pregnancy (I say "we" like I have been a part of the hard work - when we all know it has been Katie) and I can't wait to meet our daughter on Tuesday morning!

And very soon after that, we will begin packing and preparing to move to Colorado to start Waypoint Church in the city of Loveland.  I can't tell you how much I find myself dreaming of Colorado, praying for the people of the city and thinking through how we are going to join in what God is doing to see a city transformed.

Last night at work, it was brought to my attention that some people may not know what it means to "start a church" - and I would like to take a moment and explain...we are moving there with some friends of ours, and our 2 families are going to literally START a gathering of local believers and unbelievers to worship Jesus and change a city.

This is not a small goal or task.  Where we are going - there is no church building or church people.  This is not the Bible belt.  This is not the South where the Gospel is tolerated and assumed.  This is out West, where the culture is about beer, marijuana, and making money while you can cause the good life is only for today!

This is a city that has experienced a bunch of new families moving in, and a lot of growth and yet, something is missing in the city - and we believe that something is Jesus.

It takes a lot of faith, a lot of work, and unfortunately - a lot of cash to make this realization come to be.

Just this week, Katie and I sat down and calculated our expenses in the next 6 weeks, and after spending about $2,500 on my daughter (totally worth it!!!) we will still have to be prepared to spend:

$2,000 on a rental truck
$3,500 for all the expenses of moving into a new home and city
$1,200 in fuel and hotel expenses to get to Colorado from North Carolina (30hr drive)

That's a total of $6,700 that we need to raise, JUST FOR OUR FAMILY!!!  Our good friends, the Sanders need the same level of support and financial aid as well...

Up to this point, I have hesitated asking directly for money...

But, I want to boldly ask those who read this and care about what God is doing in Colorado and where He has clearly called my family - to please pray about how you can financially support our journey to Colorado.  I believe that there are men and women out there who will read this, who could write a check, or give online and take care of the rental truck expense. I know that there are those who could give us the $40 it would cost for a 1/2 tank of gas (ridiculous - remember when it was only $10 to fill up a car).  I believe that there are those who could take care of one or two nights in a hotel on our drive across the country.  No gift is too small, and all is needed and greatly appreciated.

I believe that God wants to, and is going to do AMAZING things in Loveland - and He has given us the great honor to be invited into this story.

Now, I am extending the invitation to you.  Will you give and help us get to where God is moving so we can see a city changed?

If so, please visit http://www.waypointonline.org/partner/ to give online

or you can write a check to:

Longs Peak Baptist Association (write "Waypoint Church" in the memo line)
P.O. Box 755
Loveland, CO 80539

Legacy...

How often do you think about your heritage?

Probably not a whole lot, right?

Neither do I.

Most of the time I just go about my day, really not thinking about a whole lot of anything (I think thats called being a "man"), but this morning I was struck by something as I started reading the Gospel of Matthew...

The first words

The VERY FIRST WORDS

of the New Testament

after over 400 years of silence

are about

LEGACY

Do you find it odd that after all that time of silence the way the Spirit would begin talking to people again would be to have them look back?

I know I do

Or, rather, I did

But, if you slow down and think about it - we all should start by looking back at where we came from.  Our history plays a HUGE role in who we are and where we are going.

You are someone's son

You are someone's daughter

What does this thought stir in you?

Anger
Love
Bitterness
Joy
Sadness
Peace
Frustration
Excitement

Here is the reality that struck me this morning -

I am a part of a legacy that goes far beyond what I could ever imagine.  My heritage leads all the way back to the beginning, and while I may not be able to (or really want to do all the work) to trace it back that far

God knows

He has always known

When He begins the New Testament with a story of lineage and legacy - He is speaking to us

He is reminding us that this story is about one family

One legacy

His family

His legacy


And we get to play a part of it, because Jesus is making the leap into that legacy

No longer is He simply the Creator of humanity

He is adding to His story the legacy of humanity

He is jumping into the line of David, and Abraham

And inviting us to jump in as well

Does that stir something in you?

It should...

17 days and counting....

The countdown to our journey has begun!!

Check out our website at: www.waypointonline.org

FITNESS FRIDAY!!

While I readily recognize that I by no means am going to be gracing the cover of a Men's Health magazine anytime I soon; I do greatly value fitness, eating healthy and strive to take care of myself as best as I can.  So, with that in mind, I am setting aside Friday's on our blog to talk about things related to health and fitness; not because I am an expert but because it is something I care about and wish someone would have clued me in on earlier in life.

For those who may not know some of my story, when I got married almost 9 years ago, I weighed in at roughly 320 lbs (I am not 7'4" so that's not a healthy weight).  It hurt when I walked, I got out of breath going up stairs, I wouldn't go to the beach because I was embarrassed, and I greatly lacked confidence in who I was.  I walked around ashamed of who I was, and so to escape that shame, I ate.  And ate. And ate some more.

Me back in the day...yikes!!!!!

Than, one day, soon after my wife and I got hitched, I stepped on a scale, and it was like God peeled back the scales on my eyes and I saw who I had become.  I decided than and there that I was going to do something about it.  I started making better nutritional decisions; and getting active.  I immediately eliminated all fast food, fried food, soda, and began walking.  This dropped me down to 280 lbs in about 2 months.  I lost weight quickly and with the weight loss came immediate confidence and a desire to see more weight come off.

My wife and I moved to New Orleans soon after we got married and we decided that instead of cable, we would invest in our health, which is when I went from walking to running (thank you elliptical machines for helping me transition) and shed another 30 lbs.  When Katrina hit and we lost everything and relocated back to Tampa, FL - that was where I began plateauing some, even though my fitness level increased.  I started running all the time, but I allowed some of the bad food back in my life - and so it was a bit of a push.  I would run hard in the morning, but eat less than stellar throughout the day and see little to no progress in my waistline.

I have never dropped below 200 lbs healthily (I have in the past been below that number, but it was due to fasting - which is not about weight and never a good way to lose poundage) and that is my new goal.

Since my family relocated to North Carolina, I have made excuse after excuse about why I am not working out, and I am back to feeling like each day I live in guilt about how I ate and behaved the day before.  No more excuses and no more laziness.  Today, as I went to the gym for the first time in awhile, I remembered something I believe God taught me a long time ago;  if our bodies are truly TEMPLES (which the Bible says that they are) and we are to care for them (which it encourages us to do) than of course Satan would try and attack our bodies through food and self-indulgence.  He would try and make us feel lazy, guilty, ashamed and embarrassed about who we are.  He would whisper lies into our ears about how we can't, won't, or shouldn't get out and get active  He would make that ice cream, or pizza look so much better than it ever tastes.  And we are all too eager to allow ourselves to be deceived and we become worshippers of our stomachs, just like the Corinthians.

Here's me and my lovely bride today!!

So, today - I repented of worshiping my stomach, and for laziness - and I am done with excuses!!

I have decided that because of some knee pain I have had from a slip at work, I am going to run a little, but not push that too much, so my knee can recover, but I am going to begin swimming!  We pay a bunch of money every month for a membership at the YMCA - and I am going to begin swimming. It is a full body exercise, and super difficult and something I have never really tried to do for healthy reasons.

Today I swam 250 meters, it took me about 8 1/2 minutes and between each 50m lap, I had to stop and breathe.  My hope is by next "Fitness Friday" I will be able to say it took me less time, and I was able to go a little further!

My encouragement for everyone reading this, is to do two things this week:

1 - PRAY before you eat - and I am not talking about a recited prayer or "thanking God" for this food.  That's fine, but I mean search the heart of the Lord and see if what you are about to put into your body will benefit and help, or destroy?  Slow down and make food choices carefully and don't allow what tempts the eye or nose to lead you down the wrong path.

2 - GET OUT and do something - whether it is walking, jogging, riding a bike, swimming, sit-ups, pilates, or even stretching - just try to do SOMETHING active for a set amount of time each day!

Pastor, stop focusing on things that AREN'T your job!!!!

   A few weeks ago, we were having an issue with our minivan (I swear I am way too cool and too young to drive one, but with kids they are super-helpful) and so we did the natural thing that those of us who have no clue what happens under the hood of a car would do; we took it to the mechanic and let him tell us what was wrong and fix the issues.  After looking the van over, and because of his 20+ years in the auto industry, he was able to tell us what was wrong and than able to help us get our vehicle fixed so we could get back to riding in "style".

   Just for a second, lets imagine what it would have looked like if I had taken my van to the mechanic, and rather than helping me diagnose the problem with my vehicle - he started talking to me about my credit score and what I need to do to boost my score in a tough economy and how I should be planning for retirement.  It goes without saying, that halfway through the conversation I would take my keys back from the crazy man and find a guy who KNOWS cars and is EAGER to discuss cars and their problems, so he can help me with my issues.

     Similarly, sometimes I believes pastors, myself included, try to be like the fictitious car mechanic who advises on financial things when it is not his job or area of "expertise".  I think we get sidetracked with all the minor issues in life and consumed with secondary things and we forget what our main job/call/task is.  So often as pastors, we focus on the physical and temporal things that end up in front of us that we forget our job is primarily the spiritual.  It is easier to ask whether or not the programs got proofread, the web design is relevant and "cutting edge", or if the technology of the church is up-to-date. The tougher question to answer (and I would argue the reason pastors are CALLED to a people/place) is whether people are falling more in love with Jesus, following Him more closely and burdened for those who don't yet grasp His love.  The spiritual element to our job should always be the primary focus.  Yes, the physical and temporal need to be handled, but isn't it far more important to invest in the spiritual aspects of peoples lives (the things that don't burn up and get destroyed) than the physical?

   I have a concern that the church is moving to quickly past the spiritual and focusing so much on the needs and concerns of this life, that we are sacrificing the spiritual elements (aka the PRIMARY element) of our job

   So, while I recognize that Waypoint Church has needs that are real and physical - I would ask first, that you would commit to help us with the spiritual aspect of our calling.  Will you please pray for our endeavor?

1.  Pray that God would move in the lives of the people of Loveland, Colorado.
2,  Pray that we are changed as we step out in obedience.
3.  Pray that God would bring families to step out in reckless abandon and relocate with us to Loveland.
4.  Pray that finances would pour out, not so that we can get rich, but that we can get active in the community and bless some people who, statistically, see no need for God in their lives.
5.  Pray that the grace and power of Jesus would change a city, form a people and ignite a fire in the lives of His Children that would inspire others to be radically obedient.

Will you help us address the spiritual, not the physical - and pray with us??  If so, you can commit and receive more information at www.waypointonline.org


Confused as to what Waypoint Church is?

                  Click http://thetylers04.blogspot.com/2013/04/big-news.html to find out!!!

Our First Financial Supporter...and she's 7!

Today I'd like to share with you a story about our first financial supporter.  Her name is Madison and she is 7 years old.  For our Tampa friends and family, if you haven't heard about Madison's Mission you are missing out.  At the bottom of this post is more information on Madison's Mission as well as a links to her FB page, blog and a recent video segment from Fox 13.  It's definitely worth the visit!  She is an incredible little girl with a heart for people and making an impact on her community.  If her story doesn't spur you on to good works...you should check your pulse.  :)

Madison is a daughter of a good friend & co-worker of mine.  At church Madison has recently learned about church planters and hasn't stopped talking about it.  When her mom shared the news of us moving to Colorado to plant, Madison's immediate response was "I want to help"!    Even though her mom and I have worked together since before we both had kids (can't believe it's been that long), I've actually never met Madison...which makes her financial gift all the more special.

Thank you Madison!

Meet Madison

About Madison's Mission

Madison's Mission, a cause to help local families in need, was created by a little girl with a big heart, Madison Brewer. If you would like to donate and help Madison fufill her mission please message or email helpmadisonsmission@hotmail.com.

Description

Six year old Madison Brewer of Dover is a little girl with a big heart. She is embarking on a mission to raise money for local families in need. Back in August, Madison asked her mother for an empty milk jug. Naturally, her mother asked what she needed a milk jug for. Madison explained that she wanted to collect money for a local family who couldn't afford to buy food for the upcoming holidays. Once her parents, Ryan and Deanna Brewer, realized just how serious she was about this, they began brainstorming on ways to make it happen. With the help of a friend, Devony Davenport Scott, Madison's Mission was created and the journey began. If you would like to help Madison fulfill her mission, please visit www.helpmadisonsmission.blogspot.com, or email helpmadisonsmission@hotmail.com. Donations can also be mailed to PO Box 1533, Dover FL 33527.

Click here to see Madison on FOX 13's  Hometown Hero - Madison's Mission!

To find out more about our big adventure this summer and how you can join our support team, check out this blog post.  Big NEWS!!!! 

Spring has sprung!

  It is kind of funny, after spending so many years in Florida, and being so young when we moved South from Illinois; I can't say that I really REMEMBER a true spring time experience.  This morning,  I was taking Micah, my oldest, to school and I was driving through the historic section of Wake Forest, which is lined with beautiful old homes that have been well taken care of, and extremely well landscaped - but because this is not Florida, and we HAVE seasons, things have been dead and barren for some time now.

  Well, in the last few weeks, spring has sprung all around and I have to say - I am a bit overwhelmed at all of the growth, green and beauty surrounding me.  I had gotten so used to the colors of gray and brown, and the barren trees without leaves, that to see everything full and alive and growing - makes me feel rather claustrophobic as I walk, drive or run around town.

  As I pondered this thought this morning, I wondered - is this sometimes true for us as followers of Jesus?  Do we experience growth, new life, and the wonderful beauty of a relationship with Him - and get overwhelmed and feel like running back to the barrenness of the old way of life?  Do we feel overwhelmed and sometimes scared of all that a life devoted to Jesus offers?  I think we can get so used to the dead way of living that perhaps, a taste of freedom can be scary.  It can make those of us who have been walking paths of dead religion and comfortable idolatry run back to the familiar because the luscious life of new growth, new life and beautiful glory for our King - makes us uneasy.

  A word of encouragement as well that I am walking in right now, with a bold step in faith to move to Colorado and plant a church (gotta work this news into this blog somehow)

BIG NEWS!!!!!!!!!

Well, there is BIG NEWS for the Tyler family; and no I am not just talking about the baby girl joining our family in a few short weeks! Though we are super excited to meet our daughter and start our family of 5; we have almost even bigger news...we are moving to Colorado in just a few short weeks!!!!!

That's right - always on the move, and ever hoping to step further out in faith and obedience, we believe God has called us to plant a church in Loveland, CO with some very close friends of ours!  We are so excited for this journey and can't wait to begin a new phase of adventure and obedience.

Frequently Asked Questions about this decision:

Why Colorado?
Several years ago, God placed a call on my life to plant a church, but I knew I was not ready and the time was not right.  In the last 6 weeks (yup, things are moving fast) God has released us to pursue the call He gave us a long time ago, and partnered us with some very close friends who have awakened in us a desire and passion for the city of Loveland, Colorado.  The West is a different culture and place than either Katie or I have ever been in, and while we love the South and being in the "Bible Belt"; we want to go where there is a need for people to find and fall in love with Jesus, and the city we are called to has roughly 85% of the population with little or no desire for a relationship with Jesus - but they have an interest in spiritual things! So, we believe that the fields are white unto harvest and the time is right, and so begins our trek out West!!!

Why now?
The best answer to this question, is quite simply; because there is no time like the present.  Our kids are young and we believe it will be easier to adjust to this kind of a culture shift now, rather than waiting.  We also have watched as God has opened up the doors for us to make this kind of a radical shift now; and so we want to seize the opportunity while we are free and able to.  Also, the area we are moving to is in a stage of development that really excites us about the opportunity; there is a lot of new families, new homes and new growth; but very little commercial development - which means families have not settled into patterns and routines; and since they are making "new choices" anyway, it is a prime time for the Gospel to take root in their lives and establish a "new way" of doing life!!

What's your plan?
This questions is a little tougher to answer, but basically - we want to pursue Jesus as we love our community and engage in the ever-changing world!  We believe that if we are first disciples and obedient followers of Christ, and engaged and in love with the city; God will take care of the rest.  Some of our planning and dreaming is going to be hazy until we are able to have "boots on the ground" and actually be LIVING in the city.

When is this happening?
God is so good, and in the midst of a big season of change - He has provided just enough of the path ahead for us to continue to take steps in obedience and move forward with His plan!  We are going to get to meet our little girl on May 21st and than it is off to the races, essentially...My wife is going to have a scheduled C-section (prayers appreciated) on the 21st and begin her 6 week recovery from major surgery.  During her recovery we are going to simply enjoy a season of calm, try to raise support for our adventure and really just love on our kiddos and enjoy our last few weeks in North Carolina.  But, beginning the last week of June, we pack, load a U-haul and begin the 29 hour drive to Loveland, Colorado - pulling a car and loading a van with 3 kids (a 7 year old, a 17 month old, and a 7 week old) - planning to arrive in Loveland on July 3rd.  AND THIS IS HOW AWESOME JESUS IS - we ALREADY HAVE A HOUSE IN COLORADO!!!  We have been blessed with awesome internet searching by my wife and found a rental company that is willing to work with our situation and rent us a house that is in the PERFECT location, the PERFECT size, and just within our budget, and it is available the DAY WE NEEDED it to be and they rented it to us sight unseen (which is actually a HUGE deal - most companies refused to even consider it)  So; if all goes according to schedule it looks like this:

May 21st - have baby girl
May 22nd thru June 27th - family time, recover from surgery, raise support for our adventure
June 28th - pick up truck and begin loading U-hual
June 30th thru July 3rd - drive to Colorado
July 4th - begin setting up a life in Loveland!!!  (and probably try to blow stuff up!)

Does the church have a name?
Yes, we do - and the name of our church is "Waypoint Church".  A waypoint is a GPS marker and since we are moving out West where the community is extremely outdoorsy and passionate about adventure, we thought a waypoint would connect with the culture; however we also want people to realize that there is simply one marker, or waypoint that they need to focus on and direct their lives and that is Jesus, the true WAY.

Do you have a website?
Yup, you can visit our page that is ever expanding and improving at www.waypointonline.org 

What about money?
Money is such a sensitive issue, and when you are trying to move across the country with a family and set up a new life and a new ministry/church it requires quite a bit of it.  Here is the basic's  - God is faithful and He has blessed Katie and I with jobs that are transferrable - so we have employment in Loveland already.  This is a HUGE stress-relief, however, the church itself needs a lot of funding to get going, and we also need assistance in the simple cost of relocating across the country.  Stepping out in faith and moving so quickly after having a baby is definitely testing our faith, as we look at the amount of money we are going to need to spend to get out there, pay to set up a life (first, last, securities and whatnot) and we look at how much having a baby costs, plus all the moving expenses - and the total gets rather large in a hurry!  But we are trusting that God is going to raise up supporters who believe in church planting, and want to be a part of the story God is writing in Loveland!

If you feel like you are one of those supporters you can mail support to:

Longs Peak Baptist Association (write "Waypoint Church" in the memo line)
P.O. Box 755
Loveland, CO 80539

How else can people help?
We are in need of quite a bit right now, so anything you can contribute is appreciated.  We need people to pray for us like there is no tomorrow!  The spiritual attack since we stepped out in faith and decided to run this race has been intense - so please be praying for our families.  Also, be praying for the city we are moving to, that God would begin to work in the hearts of people and stir lives to move in His direction for His glory.  We also would love to know if you have connections or relationships in Loveland or Fort Collins - our world seems to get smaller each and everyday and if you know of people we could reach out to and connect with, please let us know.

What's next?
For us right now, we are simply going to continue to pray and make people aware of our adventure and wait for God to do big things as we pursue Him.  We ask that you would pray for us, pray about getting involved and joining our adventure and we are grateful for those who respond in obedience and help us follow His leading as we make this move and begin this journey.

Confessions of a waiter...

Some of you may or may not know this, but since we moved to NC I have been waiting tables at an Olive Garden in Wake Forest - and if I am completely honest, it is the most fun job I think I have ever had!

I truly love my job, but every once in awhile I have the need to vent some of the frustrations we waiters/servers endure - and this blog seems like a healthy space to vent.

Here are some common frustrations of the service industry:

#1 - People who don't tip well, regardless of service!  I only make $2/hr and all of that goes to the government, so if you don't tip me, I don't make money.  A respectable tip for good service is 20%.  If you can't afford to tip, don't come to the restaurant!

#2 - Small children who DESTROY the surrounding area with cheerios, breadsticks, sugar packs, small animals, and whatever else they get their hands on.  I understand that kids make messes (I have 3 of them) but is it that hard to at least ATTEMPT to pick up after them???*

#3 - Arriving at the restaurant 40 minutes before the rest of your party and DEMANDING to be seated.  For real?!?! Be patient and wait for the rest of your party, don't waste my table and my time, I need to earn a living.

#4 - People who order "extra" lemons for their water and than add sugar to it to make their own NASTY lemonade.  Come on now, don't be cheap, we sell lemonade, just buy yourself a glass!

#5 - Patrons who decide to come into a dining establishment 20 minutes before close and eat an appetizer, dinner and dessert.  Take it to go, I wanna go home!**

#6 - People who leave "tracts" as a tip, or write "Jesus loves you" on the tip receipt - that's not witnessing and you either missed an opportunity or offended an unbeliever when you do this!  Man up and share your faith and engage with your waiter if you want to witness - we will be willing to talk, just take the time and make it happen!

#7 - Guests who refuse to make eye contact, spend the whole time on their cell phones, or simply treat the waiter like a grunt and not a person.  I got feelings to, Jack, how bout you hang up the phone and make some eye contact!

#8 - Teenagers.  Your young, spending someone else's money and think everything is funny or dirty - grow up, get a job and stop being annoying.

#9 - People who eat their entire dinner and THEN decided to complain to the manager about the food quality and demand free food.  We know your game, it works, but don't be like that - it makes you lame!

#10 - Dropping a $100 bill on me. Come on now; break that somewhere else - all I got is a little coin purse and no time to run around trying to play that game

* A combination of #1 and #2 may cause an aneurism in your waiter, please don't be those people!

** A combination of #1,2,5 is just plain evil

YOU WRONGED ME!!! or did you??

I have been reading a book called "The Advantage" by Patrick Lencioni and the premise is about building a healthy team...

In the book he talks about the importance of building a COHESIVE team; that trusts one another.  One of the important factors in overcoming trust issues is recognizing within ourselves the "FUNDAMENTAL ATTRIBUTIVE ERROR"

This error, that occurs within the human condition is quite simply this - when I am wronged, it is because the person who wronged me is an evil, greedy, manipulative, spiteful wretch of a human being.  However, when I wrong someone else - it is because my situation/environment/upbringing caused me to be this way; thus making it not REALLY my fault!

As I read these words - a whole new understanding of how I view conflict and relationship strain opened up for me.  I don't know about you, but when I feel slighted or wronged, I find the worst in people to blame and I take it intensely personal!  However, if I find that I have offended someone else; it was because I am a busy man who makes mistakes and WOULD NEVER intentionally hurt anyone else.

What a crazy double standard!!!!

Wouldn't life and relationships be so much better if instead of justifying ourselves and blaming everyone else; we gave one another the benefit of the doubt and sought to understand each other and extended grace upon grace?