I had this deep thought the other day. It had to do with mentoring and team building. It was based upon what I am calling a “New Polish Proverb.” I’m calling it that in honor of my Polish Grandfather who said such pithy things to me growing up.
Here it is.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
Whenever my grandfather would say something profound to me he would follow it up with this great statement in his broken English accent. “You understand me that Brucie?”
Read the proverb again.
One candle eventually burns out. A thousand lights will not be easily extinguished . . .
. . . so light another candle.
--New Polish Proverb.
“You understand me that leader?”
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Persistence
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson four is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are persistent. “Reel” fishermen are always ready to fish and they will keep fishing when others have quit.
I’ve gone fishing on a Friday night and suffered through a poor bite. The water color was off, the temperature too high. For whatever the reason, the fishing was poor, but ask me if I want to go back out on Saturday morning and the answer is yes. “Reel” fishermen know that the bite that was off on Friday night may be hot on Saturday morning. So back they head.
“Reel” fishermen are persistent because they will keep trying to catch fish even when the bite is off. I’ve changed lures and techniques numerous times on the bank of a river, the back of the boat, the side of the stream. “Reel” fishermen know that even when the bite is off some fish will bite if they can just present the right lure in the right way. So they keep trying until they catch fish.
Imagine if we were as persistent as fishers of men. Imagine if the night after a seemingly futile witness attempt we headed right back out to the stream. Imagine remaining so persistent in our effort to reach our neighbors that we tried approach after approach, conversation after conversation, invitation followed by invitations until they responded.
“Reel” Fishermen have persistence, shouldn’t we?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Optimism
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Lesson three is about being a “fisher of men.” Fishermen are optimistic about fishing. It doesn’t matter if the fish aren’t biting; “reel” fishermen are always thinking that the next cast will lead to results; a lunker waits just beyond that weed bank. If I change my lure, freshen my bait, move down the bank the fishing will change.
Strike out on a Thursday; “reel” fishermen will be back out on a Saturday, trying again. They know that a day is coming when the bite will be on, when cast after cast will lead to fish. Success is just a matter of time, conditions and persistence. No “reel” fisherman is ever defeated, just delayed.
The optimism that a fisherman has is fueled by others. Put ten guys on a pond. Let them fish without success for an hour, wait right up until some are ready to quit, then suddenly someone lands a perch, nails a bass and all ten are ready to keep fishing.
When it comes to being a “fisher of men” we must be optimistic. After all the Master Fisherman has declared that we can do this. Each of us can be successful, so with the Forgiver next to us on the bank, we should keep casting. Success may be only one cast away. If we’re not catching fish, not impacting others with the Forgiver’s story, change the lure, reposition on the bank, but keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away. And when you hear stories of successful fishermen, don’t be discouraged. Listen and learn, pick up a tip or two and keep fishing. Success may be only one cast away.
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Fishermen have “Reel” Purpose
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
I finished a book by Ed Young on creative leadership. He ended it with a chapter on fishing for men. This chapter and my own fishing obsession lead to some musing on Jesus’ first invitation. So for the next few leadership devotions here are my thoughts on being a “Reel” fishermen.
Fishermen are obsessed with fishing. There is always another pond, another stream, another river, another spot on the lake, another hole where the fish are. Fishermen long to fish. They find creative ways to manage their schedules so they can fish. They skip sleep, rise up early, endure the bugs, sometimes the cold, sometimes the heat, just so they can fish.
“Reel” fishermen don’t just settle for talking about fishing or reading about fishing or picking up a hot tip about fishing. Fishermen have to fish. They have to be on the water, at the stream, on the bank to be fulfilled.
When it comes to being a fisher of men, how do you stack up?
Are you obsessed with fishing, reaching out to others? Do you see every house, every neighborhood, and every street as a new place to fish? Have you settled for just studying about fishing? Have been content with just occasionally wetting a line? Or do you live to fish? Is it your purpose? Is it what you do?
When it comes to Jesus’ first invitation, how well have you followed?
Matt 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
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