Ministry principles:

Never do something on your own that you can do with somebody else.

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You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings.

2 Timothy 3:10-11

It was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman.

1 Timothy 2:14 

So why didn't he say anything?

He was listening to the serpent's devilish cunning to deceive his wife. He heard how Eve misquoted the command of God. He even watched her as she began looking at the forbidden tree, as she began taking her first steps towards it, even as she began taking her first bite—he was there the whole time yet he remained silent when he should've spoken.

He could have turned to Eve and said, "Honey, this snake is up to no good! He's trying to make you think that you can gain more satisfaction from disobeying God rather than by remaining faithful to him. Take a look around us, sweetheart! This is Paradise—God made it and gave it all to us. We have no reason to doubt his goodness." Then, perhaps turning to the serpent, "Snake, get lost! This conversation is over!"

But it never happened. He just stood there, possibly afraid, and didn't say a word. Adam failed to exhibit headship. And ever since Adam, every man has inherited this same inclination to remain silent—the cowardice to let faithfulness slip rather than to uphold God's word.

But Jesus bears a different image. He is the man who did not hesitate but called out against sin—even in the face of his own temptation. He is the man of strength, of holiness and of faithfulness. He is the man we were created to be, but never were. Yet he is the man we are becoming.
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Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13 

Adapted from The Silence of Adam by Larry Crabb.

Do you like what I'm saying?

The first priority for anyone in ministry is to please God,

• not leaders
• not friends
• not those we lead
• not those we preach to
• not even ourselves

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If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

"ARGHHH!"

Wow, I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to think lately. Follow God's example for rest, Osmond.

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For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Exodus 20:11

3 thoughts.

1. A reminder for men:
   • God always takes first priority
   • Then, your wife/family
   • Then, your ministry
2. Being faithful to God's word has its importance but skills in teaching, inspiring, communicating, organising and time management also have their roles in good leadership. This will hit you like a train.
3. Don't be anxious, but pray. For our flesh and our hearts may fail, but may God be the strength of our hearts and our portion forever.

I've been convicted in the midst of my current responsibilities, but immensely glad that God is refining us as through fire so that our faith can become like gold.

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Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

Hebrews 12:7

I soil, God shines.

A reminder that, as I prepare my talk, all I am responsible for is the environment under which faith and hope can flourish.
Prayers that God would draw people unto Himself is, then, a must.
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So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:7

"Preaching is not primarily to impart information. It is, rather, to produce an impression."

It is seldom that any of our bad habits or flaws disappear by a mere nature process of natural extinction. At least it is very seldom it is done by the instrumentality of reasoning or by the force of mental determination. What can not be destroyed however may be dispossessed. One case may be made to give away to another and to lose its power entirely has the reigning affect of the mind. Here’s an example: A youth may cease to idolize sensual pleasure but it is because of the idol of wealth. The desire to make money has gotten ascendancy, so he becomes disciplined. But the love of money might have ceased to be in his heart if he was draw to ideology and politics. Now he is lorded over by the love of power and moral superiority instead of wealth. But there is not one of these transformations in which the heart is left without an object. The human heart’s desire for one particular object is conquered. But its desire to have some object of adoration is unconquerable. The only way to dispossess the heart of all its affection is by the expulsive power of a new one. Thus is it not enough to hold out to the world the mirror of its own imperfections, it is not enough to come forth with the demonstration...of the character of their enjoyment, it is not enough to just simply speak the conscience, to speak its follies. Rather, you must seek, as a preacher, every legitimate method of finding access to the heart for the love of Him who is greater than the world.

Thomas Chelmers,
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection