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

The Shepherd's Corner - April 30, 2017
[:en]THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER On Tuesday evening our brother Joe Lee suffered a stroke....
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - June 25, 2023
After a three-year hiatus, God’s willing, this year we will have our Thanksgiving retreat again.  God’s willing, I am planning to give a series of messages based on the Book of Job.  I don’t know about you, but I used to find this book to be difficult to comprehend.  By the grac...
Read More
The Shepherd's Corner - May 1, 2022
The other day I met someone who was diagnosed with a serious illness several years ago.  I remember that time; and I remember how relieved he was when he learned the good news that he was now well.  When I met him, he told me that his illness had come back and he’s getting ready [&hellip...
Read More