Welcome to the January 10th edition of Faith & Life Lessons.
You will see this email full of tidbits from my week. My goal is simple. I hope that from how I live my life, you can find a thing or two that helps you as you try to live a life that matters. I am always trying to do one thing - make Christ-focused decisions in love, work, and life. And this was my week.
The Story Of My Week
I started on a 97-day accountability group this week.
The rules are pretty simple. Everyone chooses 3 goals to focus on for the 97-day period and every day we all report on 1 action we are taking to achieve these goals.
Anyone who doesn't file in a daily report gets kicked out of the group and you have to pay N10,000 (circa $25) to get back in.
Beyond the accountability, the help we all get from each other as we all make it through our goals is a huge reason for people to want to remain in the group.
For example, a guy had a goal to record the audio version of his book. Someone chipped to give him pointers on how he could do it.
Some have gotten kicked out and begged to be let in - they had to pay.
Personally, aside from the comradeship from the group, a bigger bonus is the strong focus it is building in me for action.
And it's not just action without a direction, but action directed towards things that matter to me.
A great way to start the year.
The plan is to build momentum from being in the group to make 2021 a year that brings the greatest glory to God.
How's your plan for 2021 going?
Things I Learnt
1-Seeing the World with Colored Eyes: David French is a Christian that I like to read his views on the American church. He can give a somewhat fair assessment of things without falling into the extremes that are commonplace nowadays.
In the article he wrote last week, which was prompted by the "Christian" driven assault on the Capitol in Washington DC, he highlights how he was in the same boat some decades back.
Let me share his words
Many years ago, before I deployed to an actual war, I gave a speech at a conservative gathering in which I actually said these words: “I believe the two greatest threats to the United States are university leftists at home and jihadists abroad.”
Looking back, I’m ashamed I said it. It was fundamentally wrong, as I quickly learned during my deployment. In the course of almost a year in Diyala Province, Iraq, I saw the most dreadful things, sights that haunt me today. Eastern Diyala under al-Qaeda’s thumb was one of the deadliest places on Earth.
It took a war abroad for me to absorb this perspective and imprint it into my heart.
And this is what I find more and more as social media gives everyone a voice.
Most people are seeing the world through colored eyes. And sadly, they fight for that view.
The hardest work is actually for those of us who see with clear vision.
In the words of Jude - "And on some have mercy, who are in doubt" (Jude 22)
2-Go Deep to Grow up: I was reviewing my time this week in the 97 Accountability group and one thing popped into my mind.
My effectiveness as a person has grown because of the commitment I made to go deeper with the guy who put it together.
Over the last 24 months, I have invested in training (free and paid) that he has organised.
By the way, I don't consider "free" as "free" - I paid with my attention (smiles).
To grow faster as a person, don't scatter your learning. Find people that can hold your hand (literally or metaphorically) and go deep with them to get the full value of your time with them.
I'm probably still going to be riding this guy's coattails for a bit.
Postscript
May the peace of God keep you from the overwhelm as the news of the world runs at you. May you find shelter in the promises that God has brought to you through the sacrifice of Jesus. (Amen)
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