Wednesday’s Word – Devise and Conquer

Hello All,
I’ve got a confession to make: I was wrong. I was good at it, but I was wrong. I’m not about to throw blame but the Air Force even helped to foster it. What is it? My understanding that efficiency was based on the old saying – Divide and Conquer. If I had a job to do, and I had 5 guys to do it , then there were 6 little things getting done at the same time to further our completion –Efficiently. What could be so wrong with that? Who doesn’t want to utilize their resources efficiently and maximize they’re output. Okay, that’s not really bad in itself, but to assume that the divide and conquer method works for EVERY situation. That’s definitely a mistake. I’m thankful to my brother Doug who really made that clear to me.

Here’s the word;

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Trust me, I’m totally not trying to counsel anyone on relationships, but I gotta use the following example to make the point clear: Now, as a man, I think the idea of divide and conquer is more understandable and readily acceptable, but that concept doesn’t follow when it comes to women. Women are more relational than men and the rules don’t apply the same way. If you focus more or “conquering” than “dividing”, you’ll see that sometimes conquering involves doing it together. It’s not less efficient if the job takes longer, but fosters a stronger bond; costs more money but fosters more hope. A good manager may go far on the idea of divide and conquer, but an efficient leader will know how to devise a strategy that may either divide resources, or pool resources depending on the situation. It takes wisdom to devise and conquer.

Wednesday’s Word – Life’s Liddell Lessons

“What drives you”?” You know, “What get’s your blood flowing?” I mean, really “What makes you feel alive?” Sorry to get you riled only to ask you to show restraint, but before you answer….Hold that thought. If you’ve never heard of him, I’d like to introduce Eric Liddell, a son born to Scottish Missionaries serving in China in 1902. Eric became quite the track runner to the point that he earned the nickname, the ‘Flying Scotsman’. Yeah, Eric could ‘run like the wind’ but in the 1924 Paris Olympics, Eric withdrew from his best event, the 100 Meters. Why? Well, Eric was a Christian and refused to run on a Sunday. Many were disappointed. He did however compete in the 400 meters and on the day of that race, an American gave Eric a piece of paper containing the scripture, "Those who honour me I will honour." 1 Samuel 2:30. Liddell not only ran with that piece of paper in his hand, but his record breaking performance would hold the top spot as the Olympic record for 4 years. The movie “Chariots of Fire” was partly about Eric Liddell.
As a runner, Eric’s passion was embodied in this memorable quote; "I believe that God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. When I run, I feel His pleasure."
Eric went on to become a missionary to the poor in China. He chose to suffer hardship in the service of God rather than to revel in the accolades that his talent would afford him. Eric eventually died as a prisoner in an Internment camp due to an inoperable brain tumor. An inspiration down to the last drop, his last words reported as being "It's complete surrender".
Here’s the Word;
Psalm 147: 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; 11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
I’m not saying that Eric misspoke in feeling God’s pleasure. Eric was fulfilling his purpose. And he continued in obedience. So back to the initial question: What drives you? Does that thing that drive you give you the feeling that God is pleased and that you are fulfilling His purpose for you? Piper carries the thought to culmination with statement : "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." So just a little food for thought. Chew on it a little bit and as stated in Ephesians 4:1 I urge (us) to live a life worthy of the calling (we) have received.
In closing with one last ‘Liddell’ lesson; A quote: “We are all missionaries. Wherever we go, we either bring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ.”

In Him,
Cros