It's A Filly

FINDING THE GOOD NEWS

A few years ago I read of a Ukraine businessman who bought a pager for each member of his staff as a New Year's gift. As he was returning from the pager shop, all 50 beepers on the back seat of his automobile simultaneously burst out screeching. He was so alarmed that he drove his car into a lamp post, just 100 meters from his office. After he assessed the damage to the car, the businessman turned his attention to the message on the 50 pagers. It read: "Congratulationson a successful purchase!" (Reuters, Jan. 14, 1999) That got his attention. Unfortunately, it's the bad news – newspaper headlines and world events – that generally clamor the loudest to get noticed. And there is enough bad news all around. I came across an article that reported a study of a large group of people who were instructed to evaluate all the information they received for a year and a half. They were asked to record whether what they were seeing and hearing all day long was positive or negative. These researchers determined tha tninety percent of the input the group received was negative – bad news.That may not come as a surprise to everyone. Over a half-century ago,Franklin Roosevelt told about an old man who was losing his hearing and went to the doctor for help. He was advised to quit drinking alcohol. When his family asked him what he was going to do, he replied, "Well, I've given it a lot of thought and I've decided I like what I've been drinkin' so much better than what I've been hearin', I'm just gonna keep on gettin' deaf."But there is still GOOD news aplenty. We can still hear encouraging words from friends. Any day we can witness numerous acts of generosity and kindness. And we can still spot signs all around us of love and hope. Sometimes we may have to look a little more closely, but the good news is there.

Are you finding it? It's worth the effort.

LDI Update

Our special guest for our International Leadership Development Institute is Dr. Bryan Cutshall (Brio - http://www.churchtrainer.com/about).

Dr. Cutshall shared in a conversation welcoming all to attend.

In today's conversation, Dr. Cutshall shared how he began pastoring at the age of 24 with a congregation of 52 in attendance. After 6 years, he had 150 in attendance. He sought guidance from books (one-a-week), specialist like Dr. John Maxwell. In 10 years, they grew to an attendance of 628. In the dialog, you will see the key is not about ministry or preaching that causes greater size, it is about structure. Presently, the Twin Rivers Worship Center in St. Louis, MO, has an attendance over 3,000. The focus of LDI will be growing from 50 to 500.

To listen to the conversation, please access, Conference Play Back Playback Number: (712) 432-1139 Access Code: 781930#.

Our LDI site has the slides for your consideration available for downloading.

http://cogop.org/362679.ihtml

You have an opportunity to get to know Dr. Cutshall better as he will be on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network - www.tbn.org) tonight at 9:00 p.m (Central) with Dr. Zachery Tims. It will air again Thursday at 4:00 p.m. (Central).

He will be sharing on TBN focusing on his new book, "Getting Up, Getting Out and Getting Blessed!" (Whitaker House Publications).

There is a short clip on GospelTube.Com.http://www.gospeltube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=68ae4a5993a8a4f4fa6e

Dr. Cutshall will be with us again to continue his discussion, April 1, 2:00 p.m. More information will be available via the "Connections" newsletter (https://webapps.cogopmedia.com/forms/newsletter.html) and the LDI web site (http://cogop.org/362679.ihtml).

The LDI site is updated on a regular basis so please check often.

You may register for LDI via the web site.

God bless,

HEC

This Weeks Prayer

This week open your “alabaster jar” and pour it out in extravagant praise to the Lord. Let the fragrance of His love move you in service to others and reach out to those in need around you. Pray for those affected by the wildfires in Australia and ask God to help those bringing humanitarian and spiritual aid. Continue to pray for the peace of Israel, the protection of our borders, our government leaders, our military and their families, and economic recovery. Matt. 26:6-13

Sitting On Your Talent

If you are like me, there are some things you may feel you do pretty well, and others that you would not admit to having done even at gunpoint! Please don't expect anything I build with my hands to remain standing past sundown, or anything I attempt to repair to ever stay fixed after I leave the room. And if my cars relied solely on me to keep them going, I would walk most everywhere I go.On the other hand, I do play guitar adequately and I can make a memorable enchilada dish. I also enjoy working with people and I seem to have made it a lifel ong project to learn how to become a better listener.I never thought of myself as one who has any great talent, but like each of us, I have certain skills and abilities. Let me tell you a story, however, I once heard speaker Les Brown relate. It's a story about a man who had real talent.This particular man played piano in a bar. He was a good piano player.People came out just to hear him and his combo play. But one night, a patron wanted them to sing a particular song. The trio didn't sing much and declined.But the customer was persistent. He told the bartender, "I'm tired of listening to the piano. I want that guy to sing!"The bartender shouted across the room, "Hey buddy! If you want to get paid, sing the song. The patrons are asking you to sing!"So he did. He sang a song. A jazz piano player who had never sung the song in public did so for the very first time. And nobody had ever heard Sweet Lorraine sung the way it was sung that night by Nat King Cole.He had talent he was sitting on. He may have lived the rest of his life playing in a jazz trio in no-name bars, but because he had to sing, he went on to become one of the best-known entertainers in America.You, too, have skills and abilities. You may not feel as if your"talent" is particularly great, but it may be better than you think! And with persistence, most skills can be improved. Besides, you may as well have no ability at all if you sit on whatever talent you possess. Some people ask, "What ability do I have that is useful?" But the better question is: "How will I use the ability that I have?"

This Weeks Prayer

This week ask the Lord to show you any area where pride has infiltrated your heart and let Him use His heavenly scalpel to cut it away and renew a right spirit within you. Humble yourself before Him and give Him total surrender of your will and way. Ask Him to lead you where you can express His love through serving others, and give Him thanks for every opportunity. Pray for true revival to ignite our churches, equip believers to spread the gospel, and establish His kingdom on earth. John 8:32; 1 Cor. 12:13-25; John 17:20-23

This Weeks Prayer

This week take time to sit before the Lord in silence and allow His Spirit to connect with yours to still your heart and bring you deeper revelation and peace. Bare your soul before Him and embrace the stillness. Pray for God’s peace and wisdom to permeate your life and the lives of those you know that need His touch and provision. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem when you pray for our own nation’s peace, prosperity and protection. Psalm 42:3-8