Thoughts roll around in my tiny little brain all the time, but for the last couple of weeks I have had one that I just can't seem to let go of.
A couple of Wednesday nights ago Pastor Marty, our pastor at Stevens Creek, was giving a message on the many reasons how Stevens Creek has gotten to where it is today. There were a few reasons, one being the spirit of unity that has been cultivated there, which I have to totally agree with. When you walk in the doors of Stevens Creek you can feel the difference; visit others churches and you will see and feel the difference. I have walked into many churches and didn't know a soul and could sense the strife that exists behind all the smiling faces. You can feel it! It is those churchses that I must admit I run from. If unity does not exist in the leaders you cannot expect to find it within the members. Everything rises and falls on leadership.
This great principal doesn't just pertain to churches, but businesses, families, marriages and other areas. Have you ever walked into someones house to visit and you start feeling angry and aggitated. You are greeted by your hosts and their lovely children, but you just can't shake the feeling. Spend a little time getting to know them and you will begin to see cracks that linger in the foundation on which they are built. They don't get along, they fight constantly, the house is constantly in strife and the kids are in rebellion.
I am convinced that how something begins will determine its destiny or if you will - the building is only as good as the foundaton it is built upon. The key to building a quality home lies in the foundation. I will give a prime example of this, but I will have to withhold names. A developer had a wonderful idea to build some condominums in North Augusta a few years ago. Great idea? Well, the condo's were "pre-sold" in order to raise capital for the project. The idea seemed great at the time and many "investors" showed to bid on these condo's with hopes that after they were built they could resell them for more than they invested in them. A fast way to make a little money or so they thought. A year into the project they were still not done, after two years they were not done. "Investors" started to get a little nervous. Finally, as the day drew closer to some of the condo's being complete problems construction became quite evident. Some of the foundations were cracking, there were leaks in the roofs that would not only effect the top floor, water would run straight down to the bottom and the list of problems went on and on. It became apparent that something was going on, work wasn't being completed, and no one could get in touch with the developer. "Investors" wanted there money back. The ones who stayed in tried to sell their condo and people wern't buying. Finally, the condo's went on the auction block selling for much less then what they were originally to be sold for and still no one purchased. To this day many of those properties stand tall, but not proud, empty.
The Bible is full of words instructing us on how to build, we find many references to the foundation. The integrity of the foundation is crucial to the structure that will be built upon it. Hmm!
So as my mind rolls around these many thoughts I can't help but reflect on choices we make that cause flaws to the very foundation of our being. Businesses and churches that start out as a result of being upset at one place so I'll go start my own. We have to be so careful to walk in integrity - "unless the Lord build the house we labor in vein." I have been in places were there was so much strife that it even began to enter into my house. Warren and I would fight and bicker and couldn't figure out why until we looked at what and where we were hanging. Who and what we had submitted ourselves to.
I'll be transparent here and give you an example from my own life. I met Warren when I was a 2nd year Bible School student. I fell head over heals in love and I knew in my heart that I would spend the rest of my life with him. For several months while I was in school in New York he was here in South Carolina we wrote letter to each other. We racked up huge phone bills and the UPS man made so many deliveries to my dorm room that I am sure he had to buy a new pair of shoes every month. When I finally got home to South Carolina we made a wrong choice and as a result of that choice I found myself in tears as I read a positive result on a pregnancy test.
The pastor did everything in his power to talk us into giving the baby up for adoption. Warren's mom did not want us married. In fact, they had a "special" elders meeting to discuss weather or not we should get married or not. WOW! No doubt, neither Warren or I were prepared to be parents, but we loved each other and we knew we wanted to be together. But, our rough beginning made a very rough journey. We have had to overcome a lot of things that many people who marrry don't have to. I fought a huge battle with guilt and shame for many years. We struggled financially because neither of us had good jobs to support ourselves much less a baby. But we stuck it out and only my God's grace, mercy, love, and strength have we been able to make it 17 years. God has had reconstruct many areas of our lives because of decisions we made that were very wrong.
I will add that I am so glad that Warren and I didn't listen to our pastor and give our baby up. Michael has been such a joy and blessing to us! God has used him so much to bring healing to my life.
I am very big on the biblical teaching of authority and submission. I am very careful with who I submit myself to. I know the consequences of submitting myself to the wrong things and people. It is very important to me to submit myself to leaders who are healthy, functional, and have a sure and solid foundation. Everything rises and falls on leadership. It starts at the head and it flows on down. So I when I look at the places that will affect me and my family I strongly look at the leaders; the relationship they have with one another, the relationship they have with their families, with their children, then I look at the members of that organization and how they relate to each other. How do they handle conflict? How do they talk about people?
My foundation is very important to me. I want the structure that is being built upon it to stand the test of time and when the storm comes I want to be the house that is still standing.
