January 22, 2017

The Shepherd's Corner

[:en]Garry Friesen wrote a book that affected my life in a significant way, Decision Making & The Will of God.  Often times we get stuck when making a decision because we keep searching for the will of God.  Friesen argues, instead of asking, “How do I find the will of God?” we should instead ask, “How do I make good decisions?”

Underlying his thesis is one simple principle: More often than not God works through process.  Rarely does God give us the final product; what He usually does is guide us through the process so we can arrive at the final decision.  In this book, Friesen shares many good decision-making principles which we can apply prayerfully.

Aside from a wealth of good decision-making principles, this book also teaches me the importance of asking the right question.  Asking a wrong question will lead us into a wrong answer.  Needless to say, asking a wrong question might cost us lots of time and energy while asking a right question might save us time and energy.

Last Sunday I mentioned about Joe Duran and his theory about money mind in my sermon.  You see, Joe did not enjoy a stable childhood—he moved around from Spain, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, back to England again before finally settling down in the US.  His parents were divorced when he was 10; he describes his mother as harsh and unloving, his father as a man of no integrity.

To be where he is at today, I imagine Joe didn’t ask—at least he didn’t dwell on—the question, “Why was I born into this family?”  Instead he asks, “What can I do with my life and with what I have?”  Yes, whatever our situation is, this is the question we need to ask, “What can I do with my life and with what God has given me?”

Pastor Paul[:id](Tidak ada terjemahan Indonesia)

Garry Friesen wrote a book that affected my life in a significant way, Decision Making & The Will of God.  Often times we get stuck when making a decision because we keep searching for the will of God.  Friesen argues, instead of asking, “How do I find the will of God?” we should instead ask, “How do I make good decisions?”

Underlying his thesis is one simple principle: More often than not God works through process.  Rarely does God give us the final product; what He usually does is guide us through the process so we can arrive at the final decision.  In this book, Friesen shares many good decision-making principles which we can apply prayerfully.

Aside from a wealth of good decision-making principles, this book also teaches me the importance of asking the right question.  Asking a wrong question will lead us into a wrong answer.  Needless to say, asking a wrong question might cost us lots of time and energy while asking a right question might save us time and energy.

Last Sunday I mentioned about Joe Duran and his theory about money mind in my sermon.  You see, Joe did not enjoy a stable childhood—he moved around from Spain, England, South Africa, Zimbabwe, back to England again before finally settling down in the US.  His parents were divorced when he was 10; he describes his mother as harsh and unloving, his father as a man of no integrity.

To be where he is at today, I imagine Joe didn’t ask—at least he didn’t dwell on—the question, “Why was I born into this family?”  Instead he asks, “What can I do with my life and with what I have?”  Yes, whatever our situation is, this is the question we need to ask, “What can I do with my life and with what God has given me?”

Pastor Paul[:]

More Shepherd's Corner Articles

Shepherd's Corner - November 02, 2014
The other day I stumbled upon an old picture of me and our three little children standing at a beach north of Jakarta, smiling and so happy.  When I was looking at the picture, I was wondering where Santy was.  Suddenly it occurred to me that she was not in the picture because she was […]...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - September 10, 2017
THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER As I write this, Tante Els has been moved to a regular bed in the hospital....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - October 20, 2024
On Wednesday, October 2, around noon local time in Jakarta, Jesus Our Lord came to take Oom Hein to his eternal home.  I happened to have arrived the day before but that Wednesday I had a class to teach, so, I planned on visiting him on the day after.  Not knowing that he’d already passe...
Read More