Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

What leads us to excellence? How do we get to the point that what we do is reflective of the greatness in us. How do we avoid settling for less?

I think there are three approaches we have to take:

1. We have figure a way to WAKE UP!
There is something in us that requires that we realize the brevity of life and the importance of all the time we have. No matter how long or short we are not exempt. On our last day alive and in our last hour and no matter what our physical or mental condition something is being asked of us. We have to wake up to that.

2. We have to figure a way to SHAPE UP!
Preparation is the key to accomplishment and, if we are in pursuit of excellence, we have to spend our whole lives preparing for what is or will be asked of us. There are many ways to shape up and some of that is physical but most of it is spiritual. We have to hone our skills, to plot our approaches, and to prepare ourselves spiritually. We have to know what we are up against and we will want to understand what it takes to face the challenges and what is required to avoid the temptations.

3. We have to figure a way to SHOW UP!
Sometimes the most difficult thing about life is finding a way to overcome our hesitations and fears and to find a way to insert ourselves where we need to be at the time when we are required to be there.

There will be forces and factors that will want to deny us our chance to be where we need to be and to do what we need to do.

What is called upon from us in our pursuit of excellence:

Wake up --- Shape up --- Show up

If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the other readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

If you would like a rough draft of the sermon I will email that to you. My home email delivery system isn't working so it will have to come from the office but I am happy to do that if I receive an email direction me to send it before 4pm Friday.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster