Scripture

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

~Philippians 2:3-4, NLT

Quote

Life should be like an “all you can eat buffet,” there is plenty for everyone.

~Steven Covey

Pride is a cunning foe. It convinces us that our way is best and tempts us to use others to get what we want. The most dangerous beast in any organization is the HIDDEN AGENDA. The sad thing is: it doesn’t have to be this way. When it becomes my way verses your way, we get into a war of wills and things tend to get ugly. There is a better way: it is not my way or your way but a better way that can only be achieved if you and I work together. The Greek word for this is sunergos from which we get the word SYNERGY. ‘Ergos’ means to act or to work and ‘sun’ means together. This word is found in Romans 8:28 {also Mark 16:20, I Cor. 16:16, 2 Cor. 6:1 and James 2:2}. It simply means WORKING TOGETHER. Unfortunately, the church is not immune to flesh wars or turf wars and they always produce negative affects. A lot more can be accomplished when we drop our agenda and listen to what others are saying. What many of these turf wars produce is a MEXICAN STANDOFF. It is an old cliche that simply means, “Lose/Lose,” no winner emerges. I am not happy when I don’t get my way or my ideas are not appreciated but I have learned that there is no true happiness in getting my way at the expense of others. In the last 20 years are so, I have learned to bit my lip, reign in my vain ambition and began praying for a win/win.

I am just the coach: I am not the general manager not the star athlete on the field but as the coach, I sometimes choose to punt and wait for a new set of downs. I try my best to avoid a lose/lose because there are no winners and in spite of what we think or how we act, we need each other to achieve our ultimate goal. I have learned to listen to everyone, even those I do not particularly like. Arrogance refuses to listen but I can assure you, we can learn from children if we will humble ourselves and listen. A trailer-tractor got its van lodged under a railroad overpass. The adults worked for hours and tried several different things to get the trailer dislodged. A group of children were setting on the curb of the street watching the adults work. One of those kids said to one of the workers, “Have you thought about letting some air out of the tires.” Due to pride, the kids suggestion took a while to sink it but when they tried it, it worked like a charm. Out of the mouth of babes.

I love working synergistically because you can a better result than you dreamed possible. I’ve seen it happen: some one comes up with an idea that you think is lame but the more you think about it, the more you realized it could work and I have seen it become the key idea to an productive plan. Call in collective IQ, call it synergy, call it whatever but it requires humility and listening. I don’t quote liberals very often but I like what John Kennedy said when he assembled his cabinet in the oval office. He said, “There is almost as much intelligence in this room as when Thomas Jefferson set here alone.” Of course Kennedy was talking to a group of democrats and there is more collective IQ in a kindergarten class than with the DNC. Just remember, you are not Thomas Jefferson and you and I would do well to listen to others. Never assume that you are the most intelligent person in the room. If you make that assumption, you destroy synergy.

EXTRA

It appears that we are going to have an early fall: the low tonight is 59*. We don’t usually have such low tempts until the middle of October. The cotton is really late this year. It is just now blooming. An early frost would not be good for farmers. They may not need heat time outs tonight.

LORD willing I am going with Joe David, Ty and Lori to the game in Atlanta tomorrow. I don’t go to game to many games anymore: I don’t like crowds and I hate traffic, but I want to see the new stadium.

I think all our Covid people are better PTL. Have a great day and weekend!