Hey Good Readers,
This Sunday I am preaching about authority.
As I have been pondering the topic, I have been thinking about who I give authority to in this life. I have been thinking about the magazines and newspapers I read and the televised news programs I watch. I have also been thinking about the individuals whose opinions I trust–everyone from my longtime doctor to the sharp-as-a-whip fellow at the local hardware store.
As I finish my preparations for worship, I would love for you to reflect on a couple of questions with me:
· What or who do you consider to be authoritative?
· Who do you trust to tell you the truth?
· Why do you trust these sources?
Dare to share a comment; and thank you!
SBJ
I trust my family to tell me the truth. They dont have ulterior motives or selfish intentions. They genuinely care about me and my well-being, and they want the best for me. They would never intentionally mislead me or tell me something thats not true.
What a wonderful response! Thanks Jennica!
Dear Scott, I can always rely upon my dearest friend Jeff, Heidi and Frosty to tell me the truth; they share a wonderful morality that transcends their personal needs….frankly, my too Standard Poodles, if they could speak, even more so; Authority in this world is so rare..I rely upon the words of Isaiah in chapter 40….I place my trust in the Lord…the judges and princes of our world are falling sadly short these days….lb
Ah yes, the wisdom of friends, of animals…. and trust in the Lord!
Scott
It is unfortunate that in our era we are compelled to define truth, my truth is someone else’s blasphemy.
We must also admit that there is all around us Trust deficit, lack of candor, deceit, spin
I rely on a quiet understanding,
my gut
and eye contact,
I tip toe for the good in humanty, this mind attitude, must never be underestimated as not having the abiliity to stand up for my right, or even suffer to prove it.
What do I consider authoritative?
I look to Matthew 22:37-40. Under those words is the foundation of authority to me. I am either in alignment or divergent to those words and I have a trusted companion to help me when I stray.
Who do I trust?
I trust my best friend. She is my advocate. She does not sugar coat but is never acidic. The information that she gives is useful and open to discussion. She tells me when I am heading in the wrong direction and listens when I am exploring.
I trust her to challenge my ideas as I do hers. She makes me vet thoughts and idea to her and to myself. Rarely is she gentle with my ego but she is never mean spirited. Her honesty is the best tool to my creative process.
Why do I trust these sources?
The first is a simple plan. It embodies what I believe, what I have been taught, and what I have seen to be true.
I trust my best friend because in 27 years of knowing her, she has not let me fail.