Sometimes it’s easier to relate to a “Mother Terri” next door while the more stories about the saintly other Teresa becomes overwhelming as we hear more about her way of life.

A good friend of mine travels nearly continually as he manages a well-known rock band. On a recent international flight he was reading a book that challenged him to Jesus’ call to us - to approach our lives as carriers of his life. This friend did the oddest thing – he took the message seriously. He began to put into action what was suggested. He asked nearly the entire Boeing jet, "Who is the most influential person in the church world in this generation?" Without fail each American had the same answer: Billy Graham. The stats were the same for each international, only the person they suggested was different. They all agreed it was Mother Teresa. Their reason why they chose her? "Because she lives such a dedicated life."

My friend persevered with each person. "Do you see yourself ever being able to do what he / she has done?" Their response: uproarious laughter. He clarified, "You don’t have to move somewhere, or do something spectacular. Just start to move in a general direction…" He said every single person had a look on their face that said, "Son, you must be on drugs - of the illegal nature. I’m ordinary. They are extraordinary. Don’t you get it?"

Neither of these two amazing people intended for a single moment to cause anyone to draw the conclusion that others could not do as they have done. Unfortunately, we live in a time that may very well go down in history as the day of "Great Excuses." Or to put another way, this is the era of "Not Enough."
 
I encourage you to move forward with me - a fellow former professional excuse maker (say that three times fast, I dare you!).

In Jesus There Is Always Plenty.
The beginning of the death rattle of all relationships is always always always one simple lie - "We don’t have enough. We must hoard in order to stay alive. The little we have we must grasp onto if we know what’s good for us…"

Every marriage, every relationship, every group begins uniquely. They all die exactly the same way - by beginning to believe and act on this lie.

Be Mindful Who We Allow To Influence Our Thinking / Behavior.
Paul said it succinctly:

This is a classic case of staying away from merely OK influences in favor of the greatly encouraging ones who are going to take you where you are headed. (If you are unclear regarding direction, listen a bit and you will get a clue soon enough.)

My time is invested with those in just two categories –
A.    Those who challenging me forward.
B.    Those who are openly struggling but are honest. I stay clear - way clear - of any who are living a faux spiritual life. These are evident - they spend nearly all their time telling their woes to other similarly woeful church people they hope will believe them!

Talk Up Doable, Local Models
God bless Mother Teresa and all she started. If the good Mother was a near ‘10′ on the serving scale, after a while it becomes easy to overdo stories about her. We can become discouraged at the hearing of them.

If you are a regular communicator, look for two or three heroes you can brag on a bit for various reasons in your local clan.

Jesus is the one real Hero.

God is good - his love endures forever. He is changing lives constantly. Let’s let his story be widely known – constantly!