Rear View Mirror

"God always looks better in the rear view mirror than in the windshield."

That's a quote I recently heard that I really like. I was reflecting on that as I was writing a future newsletter for my subscribers this morning (if you would like to receive this at no charge, you can sign up at www.bleedership.com).

This particular newsletter issue I'm working on deals with the pain we experience in our lives and how God promises that He will use it for good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28).

The way I see it, God can turn our tough stuff into good in a lot of ways, but in this particular newsletter I'm focusing on two:

1. It can later be used to help others who are going through similar struggles
2. It can be used to make us better and to further develop our character making us more suitable for the job God has for us

We need to remember that God does not waste anything, especially our hurts.

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans 5:3-4

Nothing's Ever Easy

On Monday of this week, my father came and installed a shelving unit that he had made for us for out family room. He is a dentist by profession but he is also a master craftsman when it comes to woodworking.

The unit he built for us is incredible and contains shelves and a place to put a television which we also purchased this week (with money he gave us for Christmas to help pay for it). He had purchased a universal TV wall mount that was already installed. All we needed to do was hook up our TV and hang it on the mount...or so we thought.

Monday night, I began the process of doing this when I found that the mounting kit did not have the right sized bolts to screw into the back of our TV. So, off to the hardware store I went to get different bolts. Well, those didn't fit either. So back I went. I got two other sizes and those didn't fit. At that point, the hardware store had closed, so the next day I got the size I needed.

Last night, Connie and I began the installation and found that the bolts (now the correct size) wouldn't fit through the brackets of the mount. I called their customer service line and was told that their "universal" wall mount was not compatible with our TV. So...it is still not installed. We have some ideas that might work, but it is going to take some work.

It seems that nothing is ever easy (especially if it involves me doing something like this).

Same is true in life. Many people I know have told me that they thought their lives would be filled with much less problems after they became a Christ follower. They were surprised to find that that is not the case. Christian or not, we will all face challenges. Those challenges are easier to handle though when you have Him in your corner.

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus in John 16:33

Overcoming Adversity

My family has become a fan of American Idol since its second season on the air. It's one of the few shows that most of us watch with regularity.

This past week there were two contestants who really touched me. The first was 18 year-old Shelby Dressel who was born with a nerve issue which does not allow her to smile on the right side of her face. In the interview shown above, she admitted she is very self-conscious about this. However, as you will see, she does quite well in her audition.

Below, is the audition of Dave Pittman, a guy who was diagnosed at the age of nine with Tourette syndrome. He also knocks it out of the park. Watch it below.

I love it when people overcome adversity!

We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3

Perseverance

In 1992, Derek Redmond, Britain's star sprinter was looking to get into the finals of the 400 meter event at the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

His career was filled with injuries and this day would be no different as he tore his hamstring. Check out the short video above for a great picture of what perseverance is all about. It's about pressing on through our pain and adversity, knowing that our Heavenly Father is going to help us along the way.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1

Pain's Purpose

On Sunday, our pastor delivered a message about how God can, and often, uses our pain from our past to help others who are going through some tough times in their lives. During his sermon he said, "There is a purpose behind your pain. Your greatest contribution or ministry will probably not come from your strengths. It will come from your struggles."

As I reflected on my life, I had to agree with him. One of the toughest periods of my life was when I was VP of Sales for a company in town. I had a boss who was an absolute tyrant. He would rant, rave and cuss at me and others. He would throw things. He even once ripped the thermostat off the wall when he was hot. It was an extremely unhealthy environment. I was stressed beyond the max and it impacted every area of my life, and maybe most of all my family.

However, looking back on this I am so thankful that God placed my boss in my life. While it was brutal, it led to me writing the book Bleedership, Biblical First-Aid for Leaders in which I contrast my boss' leadership style with that of the great leaders in the Bible. As a result of that, the trajectory of my life has been changed drastically. I know that through my tough times there are some people who have been helped.

If you are going through a period of difficulty, know that God is preparing you for ministry, to impact others. God never wastes a hurt!

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Choices

I have heard it said that life is about choices and our choices will determine how fulfilled we are in our lives. I believe this 100%.

Joyce Meyer has said that love is not a feeling, it is a choice. When we are married, there will be times that we don't really like our spouses. However, we need to choose to love them anyway. Hollywood messes up our minds on this by trying to get us to buy in to the notion that love is a feeling. Not true.

A friend of mine asked me the other day, "Jim, if someone spit on you does that make you angry?"

I said, "Absolutely!"

He said, "No, it doesn't. It makes you wet. It is your choice to become angry."

After thinking about this for a second, I had to agree. Again, choices.

Jesus promised us trouble in John 16:33. When trouble or adversity strikes, it's not what happens that will determine our destiny; it's how we react to what happens. It's the choice we make that will matter.

Check out the above video to see some inspiring stories from others who have decided to make great choices.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33