Monday 3-3-08 "Collaboration & Diversity"

Greetings Internet Campus,

Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT2)
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

This week we're talking about being the best "you" possible. How can we fulfill the potential that God has put into each one of us? Last weekend, Pastor Troy talked about our "Ethos" or values that we should live by if we are going to be able to accomplish all that God has put into us. Today we're going to pray and study the first two: Collaboration and Diversity

Collaboration - "Who are you doing life with?" If we are going to develop ourselves we've got to ask ourselves this question often. Who are your closest friends? Who knows you at a deeper level? Have you ever stopped and thought about who you spend the most time with? Who is your "go-to" person when times get tough. For some...a spouse. For others...best friends. It is critical as Christians that our closest confidante is a fellow believer. Why? Because in achieving our God potential, we will need to turn to our closest friend and collaborate..plan. When you are looking for answers to Spiritual questions...the real deep stuff...you have to turn to a fellow believer. It's simple. I'm not saying only have Christian friends...far from it...I am saying that your closest friends must be fellow believers.

Diversity - "Am I doing life with people that aren't like me?" - This is absolutely critical if you are going to become the person God designed you to be. Actively seek friendships with others that may have different colors of skin, different ethnicities, different cultures, etc. Dare to get out there and bridge the gaps...mend the fences. Reach out to others that you need to learn from...you will become a better person for it. When we all learn to appreciate people because of their hearts and not about their labels...we will REALLY begin to see Christ's love explode on this planet.

We'll look at more of our Ethos tomorrow...in the meantime ask yourself these questions in your journal:

1) Who are my closest friends? Are they leading me more toward Christ or pulling me away?
2) Do I have any friends that aren't like me?

I am praying for you this week to start to find and develop your God-potential!

Blessings!
Pastor Brian