SEPTEMBER 10, 2021
YOU ARE LOVED
With our Foundational Band of Brothers, we ask each one of them their personal Church affiliation in order to assess how they might be living their individual lives in faith. (Part of our Theme of Faith, Family, and Career) Our hope is to find a connection and some common ground to work on in building the entire organization or team. Included in our Gallup Strength Finders is the strength or talent of “Belief,” Some people use it more than others which makes no difference to us. Our goal is to assist each one them in really understanding and getting to know themselves, building on their God given strengths, guiding them to love each other as a brother, and helping each one of them reach their full potential in life. Our feeling is, that without a strong spiritual life, both personally and with others, they are missing something that will keep them on the right path in being a great husband, father, brother, friend, and leader in their industry.
Of course, religion is a set of beliefs that are practiced (or not) by an individual. (It is personal but shouldn’t be confidential if you want to build a relationship) A group of ideas and values that a person hopefully lives by. (Or not) What values and principles do YOU live by? Religion synonyms include; faith, belief, worship, teaching, theology, sect, Church, denomination, following, order, persuasion and affiliation. Take a look at each one of these words and see where you stand in your own “religion” and in what you worship. Many groups use these words to draw people together with similar beliefs in order to build their organization on a common set of values. As long as it is something GOOD, we can learn from our specific religious practices and organizations. All of us can learn to be more loving because, personally, I look at religion as LOVE. Plain and Simple. (One of our Four Pillars) For Christians, God loves you unconditionally. He knows you are going to mess up from time to time. He forgives you. Some people can never get over something terrible they did in their lives or that others may have done to them. (Guilt and Shame) We are ALL sinners so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. Accept where you are right now and follow a different path. A path that just might be more joyful and full of grace.
At the end of our lives, we will be judged and defined (by God and not by ourselves or others including our government) by how we lived our lives. Are you living it by chasing after money, acclamation, approval, kudos, twitter likes, or congratulations. What are you leaving as your legacy? Make it more than being a nice person or a sum of money. Make it about your character, your love, your wisdom, and your courage to fight against the evils in this world. (Something we are working on with our Band of Brothers in becoming Authentic Men.) I hope you choose Love and not bitterness and resentment, because that may bring about your early demise. (Plus, you will be helping your immune system by fighting off the dreaded covid and other diseases of the body. Thanks Dr. Elevator Guy)
Just remember that you are loved and forgiven and that someone has better things in store for you in the future. (try a little positive anticipation here) This is just a positive way of looking forward and not backward in your life. You can’t change the past but you can certainly change your future.
Elevator Guy
Thought for the Day: “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.” C.S. Lewis