Tuesday, January 15, 2008

I guess attitude is everything.

Well, my friends, it is coming close to the time where Marlane and I travel to Whitesboro to serve the congregation of First United Methodist Church. The next few Sundays will be difficult for most us, whether Wylie UMC or Whitesboro FUMC or the pastors and their families who are moving.

As I reflect over the years we have been together, I discovered the river flowed and there was always white water, a symbol of movement. We are thankful for the movement of the water, though. As we shot the rapids together many feelings were felt by all, some good, some not so good; some excited, some worried.

Yet, the rapids were the rapids.and so it is for the way of life. If there is movement of the water, the river, there is life. Attitude makes a difference in the ride down the river of life. One of our staff shared this quote from Chuck Swindoll that says this well:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Charles R. Swindoll

Philippians 4:4-8 says a similar message...please read it today. As we are in transition as a church family and pastors may we all take "charge of our Attitudes." "Think on these things" my friends. Forgive us Lord, for those times when our attitude hasn't been what you want it to be. Let's shoot the rapids.

Grace and peace,

Jack