The last couple of days I have been sharing the value of mentors.  There is a mentor that many never think of that is meant to teach us a great deal.  MISTAKES.  Mistakes can be our friend if we learn from them.  All things work together for the good, right?  Mistakes are inevitable in the life of every person.  If mistakes are a part of life then we must make the most of them.  We must learn. 

The sad truth about many people is that they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again.  Walking down a path of heartache and disappointment.  Others, rarely own up to mistakes.  Thinking themselves as the only ones right.  In the end they stand alone because they are the only ones who think they are right.  Then there are those who will admit mistakes, and learn to take a different approach the next time.

What about you?  Do you learn from your mistakes and correct the problem?  Or do you keep falling into the same mistakes again and again?  Or are you the one who never makes mistakes?

Yesterday I wrote about the value of mentors that are a presence in our life.  Those you can meet with on a regular basis to speak into your life.  There is, however, another type of mentor: the absentee mentor.  These are people who do not know you, but you know them.  Meaning people you admire and would like to learn from.  Again, a mentor isn’t always someone who thinks just like you think.  They are someone who have different thoughts but you can definitely learn from.

In my life, I have made the habit of surrounding myself with absentee mentors.  Many of them I have only read their books.  Others, I read their blogs everyday.  While yet others, I listen to their sermons.  Why?  To Learn!  To learn from their lives, perspectives, giftings and words.  Again, I do not agree with every bit of their theology, but there is alot of great things they share that I can learn.

What about you?  Do you read books that stretch you?  Do you watch others from a distance to see how they do things?  In our ministry roles we should be looking at how others do things, to see if their is something we can learn.  We must always be careful that we do not try to clone their ministry but rather pull ideas from a variety of ministries that will benefit ours.

The following voice mail recording is the reason why I do not get bumper stickers made up for our church.

Listen to this voice mail

Since I started pastoring at a young age (24) I have always found it necessary to surround myself with godly men who would be honest and speak into my life.  For my 12 years of pastoring, I have had one mentor who has meant a great deal to me.  Over the years we have talked often, had coffee together, eaten a few sandwiches and talked about many issues.  This mentor has always been honest with me.  He has given good godly wisdom and encouraged me not to throw in the towel.  He has heard me share my heart and helped walk me through times of hardship in ministry.

Of the many people I left when I recently moved, this gentleman is perhaps the one I miss most.  There is something about having a Paul in your life, when you are a young Timothy.  I value his friendship, respect his counsel and appreciate his willingness to speak into my life.  Since moving, I have needed a few pots of coffee with my faithful friend but we are too far apart. 

Good mentors are often hard to find.  Faithful friends even harder.  As leaders it is important for us to seek out men of integrity and wisdom who can speak into our lives.  Those who are not afraid to challenge our assumptions and tell us the truth.  A good mentor is not someone who always agrees with you but is someone who can reason with you.  The tragedy of many leaders is that they are afraid to ask for counsel because it may ruin their plans.  I cannot tell you how many times, I have been saved from bad decisions because of my friend who helped me see the other side.

If you are in leadership and do not have a mentor, find one.  I always feel it is best to seek one that is a generation apart.  One who has been down the road a little farther than you.  Since I came to Rogers, I have kept my eyes open for someone.  I am glad to say, God has allowed one to cross my path.  No, there will never be one to replace my endeared friend from the South.  But I always have room for two mentors.

Today is a momentous day in the history of America.  The first African American president will take office which speaks of America’s willingness to put race aside and elect the people’s choice.  Whether I agree with President Obama’s moral positions is beside the point today.  Today I pledge my support to pray for our new president.  Just as I prayed often for President Bush, so will it be for President Obama.  Instead of voicing my concerns often, I will pray about those concerns all the more.  As should every believer.  We are called to lift up our nation’s leaders and pray for their protection and wisdom.  God can change  the heart of anyone and He certainly can change a man’s moral stance.  Let us continue to pray for our president’s protection, wisdom, guidance and that his moral compass would lead to him to God and His Word.

Albert Mohler has written a great prayer to pray for President Obama.  You can check it out here.

I was bullied pretty bad in 6th grade.  I was the scrawny kid with a locker next to David, who should have been in 8th grade but flunked.  Many wedgies later, David finally left me alone.  But the emotional scars remain:)  This cartoon brought back the  memories.  You certainly reap what you sow.  Who knows David may come to a service one day, and boy will I preach hard on him:)

Today we went to Tanyard Creek Falls in Bella Vista, for a short hike.  It was pretty frigid so we did’t stay out too long.  At Tanyard Creek is a beautiful waterfall that is evidence of our Creator.

Jonathan Edwards wrote some thought provoking words, “It is the spirit of a godly man to prefer God to any earthly enjoyments of which he can imagine.  He not only prefers God to anything he now possesses, he views nothing any other people possess to be as worthy of admiration.  Even if he could have as much worldly prosperity as he desired, the earthly things he could imagine, he values the portion that he has in God incomparably more.  He prefers Christ to earthly kingdoms.”