The Fred Factor

I was given a book a few years ago, with the above title, with a foreword by John C. Maxwell, a Christian pastor/leadership trainer/motivational type of guy. I was intrigued by the subtitle which merely said: “How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.” I thought that was certainly kind of spiritual if not scriptural, without sounding so religious to chase people away.

 

After a long-long month of October, in which we have had over 7000 students not counting parents, teachers, chaperones here at Covenant for pumpkin Patch field trips; and five full weekends full of great fun events where we played host to other thousands of guest to our campus, I needed to remind myself of some of the “Fred Factors” in life. After all, we have had lots of ordinary people doing ordinary type work, but we certainly expect extraordinary results.

 

Principle #1 - Everyone makes a difference - our Lord and our church, in fact our world needs people who know we can change the world, one person at a time. It seems as if part of being a disciple for Jesus Christ is one who is committed to making a Christian difference in someone's life.

 

Principle # 2 -Success is built on relationships – we can't make much of a difference in the lives of people that we don't have a relationship with or don't care about. Well, we might make a difference, but it certainly wouldn't be the difference Jesus would want us to. Take time to get to know people as you invite them to spend time with you, your church, and your Lord.

 

Principle # 3 - Continually Create Value for Others- In order to make a difference in others lives, we must be determined to add to their lives, not to distract or take away from them. Are you able to either add good stuff to their lives, take away bad stuff from their lives, or are you simply dumping bad stuff upon them?

 

Principle # 4 - Reinvent Yourself Regularly – be committed to growing spiritually and growing as a disciple, so that you will have more of yourself (or Jesus) to give away to others. If you are the same person you were when you first gave yourself to Jesus, then you may either be in a rut or a grave and neither are great places for us to live.

 

Covenant and Our Lord needs us to ponder these principles and to recommit ourselves at being the best disciples possible. We will be building a new facility, and hopefully within the month of November, we will get bids and finalize our financial plans, but we are to be about more than building buildings; we are to make disciples. I am more then committed to lead us to be a church where People Meet Jesus, Hear the Message of Jesus, and then live out our Mission for Jesus. That is when we might need some of the Fred Factor Principles to live out. Find your place among us as we live out our faith.