I got an OK from the Lord to touch this leadership thing a little bit. Jesus just wants to be the head of this thing (He is the only head honcho) and He does the appointing of leaders.
There were always leaders appointed in those places that Paul wrote to. They were called elders....there was never only one elder....always plurality.....always for an area.....and Jesus had a whole lot to say about what kind of folks they were to be, how they were to live and how they were to function in that responsibility thatHe gives those elders.

I promised to talk to you about another word that started out really awesome but has also lost its meaning over the years. That word is church! I want you to know that I love the church!

When we went down to New Jersey for my daughter's 50th birthday, Ellen insisted that I buy a jacket.....the last one I owned (purchased almost 30 years ago) :) finally made its way to "Second Chance" a couple years back and was not replaced. Just so you know....I do actually own a suit.....one suit....which no longer fits since I lost all this weight recently....:)

The system always tells us to be strong. I need to say....before I can go on to talk about any of the other things that are burning in my heart.....I need to say that it's time to break with that.... it's time for God's people to admit our weaknesses. Look at what the Lord said to Paul the apostle and Paul's response.

2Co 12:9* And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

We just returned from an extra-long weekend trip to New Jersey for a surprise birthday celebration of my oldest daughter's 50th, planned by her two children. It was a very special time.....in so many different ways....each of them significant....all having to do with relationships. Some healing, some restoration, some building and on and on. So many stories. So many things crashing thru my mind wanting to find an expression of some sort in some way.

Not only are we born into the middle of a war.....(I've talked at length about that before) but once we experience that new birth, hopefully, we become aware of the war that is raging within us. The apostle Paul refers to it as the war, (the ongoing battle), between our spirit and our flesh. There can really be no awareness of this battle until after we have been born again. Paul talks about this in several places like Galatians 5, but also in Romans 7.....

God is your friend. Did you know He wants to be your friend?

Greater love? Giving your life to another. Has to do with someone (me?) laying down my life for someone else..... preferring someone else to myself. Try it in your marriage....I did.....wow....what a difference.....like I said, try it....you'll be totally amazed. I really want to talk about this marriage thing at some point but need to put it off yet another day or so, because I think what is on my heart right now is something that is also really important and I can't let it go another day.

In 1954, I was taking proofs of advertising copy to the advertisers for their approvals. One of those places was the local movie theater...every day. I got real friendly with the manager who gave me free passes to the movies.....absolutely the best part of the whole job! When the blockbuster hit On the Waterfront was released that year.....I saw it 10 times!

I was sure I would be the next Marlon Brando! This was the tour de force that drove this young wannabe actor to attain those same heights.

Please try to remember that the things I say in these musings are things that I share from my own personal experiences....many of them from my failures..... time and time again......two steps forward, then one step backwards....all of my life in God. There is no instant anything in the Kingdom of God. It takes time to grows up. The things I share, are out of a broken heart about my failures, and I share them in hopes that someone will grab some little handle on truth that will propel them further into God and all that He has for you.