Chasing The Wild Goose

God Can Steer A Parked Car

I've just finished reading Phil Vischer's new book, Me, Myself, & Bob, in one sitting.  While I was reading I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more and then I cried some more.  Maybe I was so touched by the story because, like Phil, I've been an entrepreneur and can relate to joys and heartache of running a business. 

I felt as though I was there for the roller coaster rise and fall of his company Big Idea.  From the production of the first Veggie Tales video to their eventual bankruptcy.

I was reminded of an old sermon that describes how when man starts something it almost always eventually becomes a Frankenstein.  How once created, organizations, businesses and ministries all seem to take on a life of their own.  They start to serve their own interests rather than the interests of their creator.

Towards the end of the book, Phil refers to the oft quoted passage from Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."  I mean...yes, right...that's it, we have to strategize and come up with goals or else we won't know where to head....or will we.  He goes on to point out that none of the modern translations use the word vision, they use the word revelation.  When the King James version was translated, "vision" didn't mean what it means today.  It wasn't about goals and ambition and a "vision statement"...it literally meant a vision from God.   

He writes:

According to Paul, God had in mind even before I was born the "good work" he wanted me to do.  I don't have to dream it up, I don't have to read a hundred business books and craft a "vision paper," I don't have to try a bunch of stuff and see what works.  I just have to stop and listen.

The Problem with the saying "God can't steer a parked car" is that, while its cute, it isn't biblical.  When people of great faith in the Bible don't know what God wants them to do, they don't just run off and make stuff up. They wait on him.

I've used that phrase myself.  I've told people, "Just do something, start moving, get going, God will direct you."  The problem is, like Phil points out, that doesn't seem to be how the God of the bible works.

Take Noah, a man who actually got to "save the world."  He waited 500 years for his chance.  What was he doing during the wait?  Genesis 6:9 says, "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."  That's what Noah did for the first 500 years of his life, he walked with God.  That's what God is calling us to do, to wait on Him.  To walk with him.  Not to run out and and try to manufacture something important to do for Him. God's more interested in our relationship with Him than what we do for Him. So maybe God can steer a parked car...the question is, will we wait for Him?

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Today I Turn Thirty

A friend asked me yesterday if I feel any different, and honestly I don't.  However, I am aware that I am stepping into another decade of life, specifically the second decade of adulthood.  In my late teens I set a goal of becoming a millionaire by age thirty.  I'm grateful to say that I haven't achieved that goal.  Grateful, because I don't believe that I'm ready for the responsibility that comes with that kind of wealth. 

A couple of months ago a friend of mine who turned thirty last year sent me a document, a sort of guidebook that he had compiled when he turned thirty.  What he did was ask a dozen or so older men to give him counsel for the next decade of his life from the experience of the miles they have traveled.  He asked them "Where should a man be at 30? What should the decade of the thirties be all about? What are the pitfalls? What would you change about your thirties if you could go back and do it again?"

As I read through these men's responses, a few really jumped out at me:

One man said that the core drives of the 30's are: To get something going, to make a name for yourself, and to make a little money - Resist these, rather than be seduced by money, live a normal life, its not about the money.

Another said enjoy your wife and kids - You won't be available much beyond your domain, that's OK and even good.

Several of them stressed the importance of key relationships: With mentors who speak into your life.  With peers who you walk through life with...and don't discount the impact you can have on younger men.

Another man offered this gem, Get up early, be with God - when you do this there will be a shift from you doing it for God to you doing it for you.

There was more...much more.  True wisdom from Godly men.  I'm so grateful to have it as I head into this next decade of life.  I'm also so thankful for Amy and our kids, our friends and all that God has blessed us with.

Goal-Setting: The 90-Day Challenge

I read this on Michael Hyatt's Blog Today...I found it really helpful:

I planned to write a new post on goal-setting today. This is the perfect day for thinking about the year ahead. However, I re-read an article I had written on that topic a couple of years ago on my Working Smart blog. (I recently shut that blog down to focus on this one.) I didn’t think I could improve on what I said there, so I am re-posting it here—with a few minor tweaks. Enjoy!

It’s that time of year again. New Year’s resolutions, diets, exercise—and goal-setting. I continue to be surprised at how few people take time to write down their goals. Despite the fact that numerous studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between goal-setting and success, few people seem to ever get around to it.

I have been setting goals in one form or another for years. Every now and then, I stumble across an old list of goals. I am always fascinated by how many of the things I write down come to pass. And, I must confess, it often happens despite the fact that I do nothing more than write it down. The magic of this is all explained in a very compelling book by Henriette Klauser called Write It Down, Make It Happen.

Even if you don’t create an action plan for each goal and work your plan, there is tremendous power in simply identifying what you want and focusing some thought on the outcome.

For example, at the beginning of 1997, I wrote down this goal: “Write a a New York Times bestselling book.” Now understand: at that time I had never written a book. I had a book idea, but that’s all I had. Though I had worked in the publishing industry my whole career, I was scared to death at the thought of actually trying to write an entire book. Nevertheless, I wrote it down and took a deep breath.

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