Jim Martin's Encouragement Note #20
Your life is happening today. Yet, some people spend much of their lives waiting for real life to happen. Right now, it may be particularly tempting to see life this way. Yet, Christ-followers are called to live with the conviction that Jesus is Lord — right now, even in very difficult circumstances. Real life is happening right now.
I hope you find the following list of five encouraging or helpful:
The List of Five
What Are Your Important Questions?
The right question may provide clarity and focus in helping you take the next challenging step.
I have found the following questions helpful as I reflect on my own growth. You may have other questions that you find helpful as you reflect on your own life. These questions can help you gain clarity on behaviors which are not productive and may even keep you stuck.
How does fear/insecurity show up in my life? How does my fear/insecurity impact the way I function with others?
How do I see the world? What messages from my past influence the way I view the world and consequently behave?
Do I believe God will give me the power to be or do what he desires? If I really believed this, would my life be different than it is now?
How can I best invest my life in the days/years that remain? What often holds me back me from taking the next step?
Does my use of time reflect a real confidence in prayer to God or does my use of time suggest that I believe that this life is all up to me?
I would love to see some of your own questions. Please e-mail me jmartin9669@gmail.com
Your Impact on Others/Their Impact on You
I love the following reminder regarding the importance of paying attention to your impact on others and their impact on you. The following quote is from Steve Cuss in his conversation with Cary Nieuwhof. You can find this discussion on Nieuwhof’s podcast or you can find the show notes here. These notes are worth reading.
I can walk into a room anxious but be a non-anxious presence by being aware of my anxiety. One of my great tools is naming it. Sometimes I name it to God before I walk in. Sometimes I'll name it to the room. I'll just say, "Boy, I'm carrying this thing right now. I just want to name it to get some power over it."
But a true non-anxious presence is the ability and the skill to not let others' anxiety affect you. Like if you have a phantom mob coming your way or people are ganging up, or you get that critical email, and you're stood up. It's the ability to manage it rather than infect others with it.
Beware of These Toxic Habits
The following are five toxic behaviors to avoid. These behaviors have a way of robbing others of joy and contributing to discouragement. These behaviors can hurt a relationship and damage a friendship, a marriage, or even a congregation.
A person may be a controller. He/she gets upset if you don’t do it their way. This person wants it done now, in a certain manner, or she/he will become very upset!
A person may be very negative. This person focuses on every dark cloud in the sky while taking the sunshine for granted. Give this person five minutes to speak and watch the negativity pour through this person’s words.
A person may be a complainer. This person may gripe and complain about most anything. He/she regularly communicates that what is happening doesn’t suit her. Nothing ever seems to measure up.
A person may be dramatic. This person seems to be bored unless the attention is on him/her. Everything seems to be a crisis, an outrage, etc. Meanwhile, this person may rarely show an interest in anyone outside themselves. This person may only be comfortable if the attention in the room is focused on himself.
A person may be cynical. This person has a way of bursting another’s joy. Another’s motives are suspect as this person never believes that a one’s motives may actually be good and pure.
You May Find this Very Encouraging
My friend Greg Sterling, Dean of Yale Divinity School, recently shared the powerful story of “The Four Chaplains” and what they did for American soldiers at the sinking of the USAT Dorchester (See Reflections). Read this powerful story:
One of our alums demonstrated this in a way that I will never forget. At the outbreak of World War II, Clark Poling ’36 M.Div. decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, a chaplain in World War I, and serve as an Army chaplain. At chaplain school he became close friends with George Fox, a United Methodist minister; Alexander Goode, a Reformed rabbi; and John Washington, a Catholic priest. The four chaplains boarded the USAT Dorchester, a luxury ocean liner that had been converted into a troop transport, in New York on January 23, 1943, on their way to the European theater. In the early morning hours of Feb. 3, 1943, a German submarine torpedoed the ship about 150 miles from Greenland. According to reports, the chaplains spread out and helped to calm the troops and get them to the deck. Once on deck the chaplains began to distribute lifejackets. Engineer Grady Clark described what took place. He said that once there were no more lifejackets in the storage room, the chaplains immediately removed their lifejackets and gave them to four frightened young men. As the ship sank, the survivors saw the four chaplains braced on the now slanting deck, arm in arm singing and praying. Some reported that they heard English, Hebrew, and Latin. Grady Clark reported:
“As I swam away from the ship, I looked back. The flares had lighted everything. The bow came up high and she slid under. The last thing I saw, the Four Chaplains were up there praying for the safety of the men. They had done everything they could. I did not see them again. They themselves did not have a chance without their life jackets.”
Only 230 of the 902 men aboard the USAT Dorchester survived. Poling had written his father and asked him to pray for him before he boarded the ship:
“Not for my safe return, that wouldn’t be fair. Just pray that I shall do my duty … never be a coward … and have the strength, courage, and understanding of men. Just pray that I shall be adequate.”
Poling and the other chaplains were more than adequate. They stood as beacons of hope for the sailors who survived, beacons of hope because they had hope in God. May we do the same.
Isn’t this a powerful story? This year, 2020, may you and I be beacons of hope because of our hope in God.
Resources
I just finished reading Rich Villodas’ book, The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus. Excellent!
Also, I just finished reading Carmine Gallo’s book, Five Stars: The Communication Secrets To Get From Good to Great. Very helpful.
The following quote is cited by James Clear in his October 22 newsletter. Note this wonderful observation by lawyer and activist Vernon Jordan:
"You are where you are today because you stand on somebody’s shoulders. And wherever you are heading, you cannot get there by yourself. If you stand on the shoulders of others, you have a reciprocal responsibility to live your life so that others may stand on your shoulders. It’s the quid pro quo of life. We exist temporarily through what we take, but we live forever through what we give."
Source: 2002 speech at Howard University
I love the look of joy and delight on these children’s faces! (Pre-COVID 19):
Each Friday/Saturday, I post about ten tweets especially for ministers and other church leaders as they anticipate Sunday. You can find me @jimmartin.
Jim Martin serves as Vice President of Harding School of Theology, Memphis, Tennessee. You can find me at God-Hungry.org. You can find me on Facebook - @jim.martin. My e-mail address is: jmartin9669-at-gmail.com. Feel free to write. I would love to hear what is encouraging or helpful.
