That Being Said.......

In a follow up to my previous post (which, incase you are a pesimist, is a tribute to my pastor) That being said, I've been thinking about how much people, myself included, like to only point out the negative sides or sides they don't agree with. Like we could sit through a church service and the next couple days we discuss all the points that we think our pastor was wrong. Or,, we read a popular book and then discuss and point out all the places the author was wrong or off track with our beliefs. Well, I was made aware of that recently when my uncle called me and told me he had been reading Rick Warren's book "Purpose driven Life" and mentioned that there were a few things that he did not agree with but him and the family were enjoying the wisdom and good points that were in the book. I came away from the convo thinking, "That man just expounded on the good points and only made brief reference that there were some things he didn't agree with". I think that is a model to follow. Unless of course we search for the negative in others. I try not to but oh how easy it is to put down than lift up. Can I get an Amen to that?

Stand up Pastor Clark

"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Teddy Roosevelt

I may not always agree with my pastor. But one thing is for sure. He is in the arena, his face marred by dust and sweat and blood and he strives valianlty.........for a worthy cause.


And for those of you who have read it.. what book am I reading?