The 5% Principle

Pastor and leadership author Wayne Cordeiro introduces the 5% Principle in his book,  The Divine Mentor.  Cordeiro believes that 85% of what we do in life anyone can do.  It doesn't require special skills, education, training, or expertise.  And 10% of what we all do can be accomplished by anyone else with a little training, or education.  And then there's the remaining 5%:

But 5 percent of what I do, only I can do!  This is the most important 5 percent for me.  I can't delegate these initiatives to anyone else.  I can't hire someone else to take my place in any of these activities because they require that I be there!  This 5 percent will determine the validity of the other 95 percent.  

Every person has his/her own 5% that is unique to them.  For example in my life no one else can be a father to my children.  I am their Dad and only I can do it.  So parenting my children is unique to my 5%.  Other people can parent, but they can't parent my children.  Cordeiro says the principle applies to us whether we are married, single, widowed, old, young, empty-nesters, or living with a house full of kids.

What is your 5%?  What part of your life is unique to you?  Mowing my yard isn't part of my 5%.  Anyone can mow my yard, that's in the 85%.  But only I am married to my wife.  While sometimes it's tempting for us to "hire out" our spousal responsibilities,  the truth is that I am the only one who can be present for me in my marriage.  Get the idea?  What makes you, you?

Too many times I focus on the 85 or 10 percent of life.  I allow them to shape and form my response and responsibility for my 5%.  That is completely backwards.  The 5% is the most important.  It should shape and form my 85%.  Cordeiro says that our choice of what is most important will shape our soul.

What is most important to you?  Career, promotions, money, popularity, and achievements won't matter one inch when we stop breathing.  But the 5% will.  So go ahead grab a piece of paper and start a short list of those 3-5 things that make you, you.  Invest and work on the 5% and you will be amazed how the rest of it falls into place.  If your a Christ-follower be sure to pray about it and ask God to sign off on your 5%.

Yes, Word of God Speak!

Let me say straight up that this is not an appeal for sympathy, help, or support!  Actually, I hope it helps and encourages others.  Since 2009 our immediate family has experienced the following:

• An unusual/rare pelvic tumor followed by re-section surgery with countless biopsies and procedures before and after
• Diagnosis of an auto-immune disease-Crohn's
• Divorce 
• Shoulder surgery
• Suicide of a sibling
• A wreck caused by someone else that totaled our child's car
• Cancer and euthanasia of a beloved adopted dog
• A second pelvic tumor with even more biopsies and procedures that led to a diagnosis of:
• A child's wedding
• Cancer (NHL Large diffuse B-cell, stage 2) 
• Chemo and radiation
• Migraines
• Ongoing radiation side effects
• Pregnant daughter-in-law hospitalized when car was totaled 
• Ongoing monitoring of a kidney (more tests, etc.)
• Several months of retirement investment lost (at 50 important!)
• Second adopted dog diagnosed with cancer
• New car hit from behind requiring body work

My name is not Eeyore, or Murphy!  Remember Eeyore, the lovable, but melancholy donkey in Winnie the Pooh who always had a cloud of negativity following him?  And of course Murphy from Murphy's Law (if anything can go wrong it will).   I haven't even included the normal life junk and challenges we all face with schedules, income and home budgeting, work, home upkeep, etc.  Perhaps you can relate.  Even good stuff like a wedding, a move, or the birth of a child can be stressful.  This challenging three-year stretch really has me thanking God for the years of relatively smooth seas we have previously enjoyed by comparison.

I'm proud to say that God has gotten/will get us through (not around) all of this!  I believe it.  But I also know that just because I profess confidence in God's providence/care that doesn't mean I don't ever doubt, struggle, question, hurt, grieve, ache, and mourn over these and other life events.  We are not strong enough to carry this alone and survive.  I admire those who are that self-sufficient and strong, but I'm not.  

We know deep within that we are weak, imperfect, flawed and incapable of handling this alone.  Hence, the rub.  We tend to forget that in the middle of these life storms.  I did just this week.  I reacted in flesh and forgot this isn't something I can fix/change.  I forgot the most important thing---that the Word of God can speak to every single need, situation, or pain we have.  I ask your forgiveness and God's for trying to "go it alone" and forgetting the power of His Word earlier this week when I was looking at all this in the flesh.  Mercy Me's "Word of God Speak" is something I need to lean into.  Maybe you do too:

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

(ENDING)
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

by Bart Millard and Pete Kipley © 2002 Simpleville Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)

Too Young to Die

This weekend a 17-year old in our community was killed in a single car crash.  She was a student at the high school my daughter attended.  Over the years the school has had too many student fatalities.

Three weeks ago a 15-year old boy in our community was killed in a domestic violence murder that also claimed the life of his mother.

Both of these kids were too young to die.  Between them there were too many unfulfilled dreams, aspirations, hopes, plans, rehearsals, practices, dances, events, games, celebrations and joys to experience.  They didn't get to experience senior finals, prom, those classic senior pranks and college admission applications.  Their deaths remind us that life is definitely not fair and it's often tragic.  My life is half over and it's been a full one, but theirs was just getting started.  My heart breaks for their families, friends and the classmates left behind.

It's too soon to offer any lessons we can learn from these tragedies.  The mourning hasn't concluded and cheesy, or cliche' responses do more damage than good.  People are numb, shocked and hurting.  The best thing we can do is cry with them.  Hold them.  Wipe their tears.  Listen to their pain.  Sit with them and pray.

Time is what's needed.  Time to process with the help of professionals and loved ones. Time to sift through the ashes and search for whatever can be gleaned from losing a child, a sibling or a classmate.  Time to grieve and time to reflect.  Time to let God's healing work take its course.  Time to let God fill an empty and aching heart.  In the months to come (after the memorials and funerals) may God's comfort drench these families and loved ones so they know they are not alone in their grief.

Romans 8:26-27 is my prayer for these families.

When Mobs Rule

A U.S. Ambassador and three others have been killed in Lybia.  Protests in Yemen, Cario and other Muslim countries at U.S. embassies is all over the news.  It's all because an anti-Islamic film produced by someone with a questionable background with which the United State had no part. 

We are seeing the rule of mob mentality.  No reason, no logic, no rational thinking despite the words to the contrary at the high levels of government:

“The U.S. government had absolutely nothing to do with this video,” Clinton said at a meeting in Washington with a delegation from Morocco. “We absolutely reject its content and messages. But there is no justification — none at all — for responding to this video with violence.”

You cannot reason with extremists and ill-logical people.  You cannot talk to people who are bent on defamation, hate, and destruction.  You cannot reason with irrational people.  When mobs rule (regardless of the cause whether religious, ideological, religious, political, or philosophical) people cannot talk, discuss and diffuse because emotion rules the day.   Extreme is exactly that, extreme.  It does not agree to disagree.  It cannot discuss issues dispassionately.  It reacts with anger and emotion.  It makes hate take center stage.  

In my 50 short years I have heard Christianity insulted on more than one occasion, but I never sought to burn the flag of a another country, attack an embassy, or kill someone attacking my belief system.  And most of those opposing my faith have been within my own country.  This is absolutely sad.  

My prayers are with our leaders, diplomats, military and the leaders of these Muslim countries.  May calm, mature, reasonable people take a long view at what's happening and act with intention not emotion.  Ironically, the very person (Ambassador Stevenson( killed by these terrorists fought for their independence from the tyranny of the Gaddafi regime!  My prayers are with the families of our diplomatic corp who have lost loved ones and friends.  

May God help us to be wise and mature in our reaction and response! 

The Bully Swallows the VW's Remote!

Cardinal Timothy Dolan at Republican National Convention

Did you catch Cardinal Timothy Dolan's benediction at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte last week?  Take a look.

Don't Forget!

Today is the 11th anniversary of the 911 attack on the United States.  The four coordinated suicide attacks using airplanes as weapons took the lives of nearly 3,000 people.  It is a day that forever changed the way Americans live.  The four planes with suicide bombers aboard hit:

• 8:46 a.m. North Tower of World Trade Center
• 9:03  a.m. South Tower of the World Trade Ctr.
• 9:37 a.m. Pentagon
• 10:03 a.m. Shanksville, Pennsylvania field

The attacks underscored the vulnerability of every nation in regard to large scale acts of cowardice and terrorism in the 21st century.  But the attacks also brought out the best of America and showed the world our resolve to pull together as a people and tell the world that despite our differences we are united.   Individual acts of bravery, mutual sacrifice, serving and care rose to unsurpassed levels as people rolled up their sleeves, gave blood, donated money, time and energy to clean up, render aid, and help their fellow Americans.  Wherever you are today take a moment and offer a prayer, or sit in silence and reflect on the massive loss of lives on American soil.  May the world, the families of the victims and evil men everywhere know that we have not forgotten.  We remember!

Mr. President and Governor Romney Just Answer the Question!

Mr. President and Governor Romney can we have an honest debate?  Can we actually expect each of you to provide an answer to a question without demonizing, or putting down your opponent?  Can we expect you to simply answer a question in the debates without going down some political rabbit hole that in no way answers the question?  Can we actually expect you both to agree to tell us what you would actually do, or propose without taking jabs at each other, or avoiding the question?  For example, when asked about the deficit don't say one word about your opponent, his plan, or record, but simply tell us your plan.  What will you do?  And then let your opponent have a specific amount of time to respond by sharing his plan without referencing yours.

Here's a novel and naive suggestion:  Have a gentleman's agreement to simply answer a question when it is asked of you.  And here's a way to insure it happens.  Have an independent bipartisan panel determine whether or not either of you actually answered the question.  If you don't, you must yield "X" number of minutes to your opponent for "free" speech on anything they want to speak about, or address.  Oh yeah, and how about putting 3 average Americans who are "undecided" on the panel of experts.  That's a debate format people beyond the heavy partisans will actually watch, take an interest in and become informed.

Please Mr. President and Governor Romney show us something different than the "political-speak," we are so used to hearing and most of us simply tune out and turn off.  Show us leadership.  Show us gentlemen who can have honest differences and rely on their proposed solutions to serious problems we face like the deficit, jobs, education, energy, health, government gridlock, unemployment and our future, without tearing the other down.  Give us your plan, your proposal and your ideas.  We are big people.  Let us decide.  And yes you may have to tell your respective political lap dogs to "heel," so you can model and demonstrate what it means to be a gentleman at all times.  You don't have to tell us what the other one believes, proposes or has done.  We can read.  Mr. President and Mr. Romney you owe us an honest debate.

Life

Suddenly
almost
out
of
nowhere
it
comes
like
a
flood.
It
can't
be
controlled,
harnessed,
or even,
manufactured.
It
swamps
us
with
joy,
sadness,
victory,
loss,
tears,
laughter,
and joy.
It's
life!
Celebrate
every
day
it
comes.
It's
short
and
it's
all
a
gift!