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It's All About Attitude |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 5/21/2008 1:33 PM | Greeetings on this gorgeous day!
I have been thinking a lot about attitude lately. Mainly because I find myself slipping into a bad attitude about some things. I have come to understand that much of the time, it is other people’s bad attitudes that lead to my bad attitude! And who knows what kind of impact my attitude has on the people around me. It is a vicious cycle and one that I would dearly love to break.
I look at our current political situation and realize that all the stuff that swirls around it is fostering much in the way of bad attitudes. Too often candidates do their best to criticize their opponents rather than telling us positive things about their own candidacy. Observers and pundits openly rage against candidates, but offer little, if anything in the way of positive alternatives. A lot of the time, they don’t even have a candidate they want to promote: they just want to stop someone else! This negative attitude does precious little to encourage people to participate in our political process, and more than likely, repels a large number of people. What happened to the days when we supported candidates for what they offered rather than grousing about why the “other” candidate is at best, inadequate; at worst, evil?
This morning on the news I heard of another doping scandal in the arena of world class track and field competitors. Add this to the steroid scandals in professional baseball and cycling, the cheating charges in professional football and I have to wonder what is going on. Where is this “win at all costs” attitude coming from? At the risk of reputation and health, athletes and coaches seem to be oblivious to the message they are sending to young athletes all over the country, even the world. What ever happened to the thrill of competition for its own sake? Sure, no one likes to lose, but there is no shame in losing when you try your hardest.
In the last few years we have seen whole industries wracked with devastating financial scandals that seem to stem from the greed of those in charge. Lives have been severely disrupted, retirements foregone, life savings dissipated all because of an attitude of greed.
It is all enough to turn even the most hopeful among us to cynics.
But, this week, I think I discovered an antidote.
Several weeks ago I agreed to help a friend coach her 9 year old son’s youth baseball team. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the attitude of these boys and girls is something that we should all pay attention to. They are full of hope at the prospect of a new baseball season. They are excited about playing “real” baseball…no batting tees, no adults tossing in the pitches. They are so thrilled to be outside with an oversized mitt on their hand and the word “Mets” emblazoned on their t-shirts. (Don’t blame them: they didn’t get to pick the team name, okay?)
For these kids, anything is possible. But they are learning to be realistic, too. Most of them are quick to recognize which part of the game they like the best and which parts they are best at. Fear holds a few of them back, but teammates try to encourage each other, and the team is held together by a shared, joyful, supportive camaraderie. Bad attitudes? Not a one in the bunch.
These kids are displaying what I believe the church can be, at it’s best. We need to learn from them. Not because we are the cause of bad attitudes, but because we ned to understand just how infectious a good attitude can be! We need to understand that when we self-present as Christians, people will look even closer to see how we act. And when we act out of a sense of joy, when we act to show people what wonderful things we have been given on our faith journey, when we act to build up the kingdom of God and it’s inhabitants, we will go a long way in countering the bad attitudes we see all around us.
And you know what? It just feels better when we choose to be positive. Don’t believe me? Well, get over your bad attitude and give it a try!
For your prayer lists:
Please continue to keep the people of Myonmar and China in your prayers as they deal with the devastation of typhoon and earthquake. And as I sit here this morning I reminded that these are not just things that can hit in far away lands, it can also hit close to home as I hear chain saws whirring, clearing debris from last nights storms.
Announcements
We would like to try something again this summer that has been successful in years past: we want YOU to tell us your favorite hymns and praise music so that we can sing them over the summer! Simply send in your choices to ruth@brookhavenchristian.org or brad@brookhavenchristian.org or write them on the back of your attendance slip over the next few Sundays and we will plug in as many as we can. They can be old favorites or new songs you would like us to learn, just let us know.
VBS is right around the corner – June 21, 22 and 23 and you can help. We are trying something slightly different this year: we will not have an adult program and want to invite as many adults as possible to join in the fun as volunteers with our kids. Contact Debbie Kinney or turn in a sign up sheet this Sunday. There will be a volunteers meeting on June 1st right after worship.
Campbell Stone – Buckhead is holding an Open House on Saturday May 31st from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Dining Room to celebrate it’s newly completed renovations. Stop by and get a look at the NEW Campbell Stone.
Remember, “Dinners For Eight” will take place the evening of Saturday May 31st. To sign up, contact Lynda Anderson or sign up with the bulletin insert this Sunday. Let us know if you can host, and if you are willing to host a “kids invited” Dinner for Eight, please let Lynda know. We would like to include at least one such home in our event.
I hope you all will be able to join us this holiday weekend as we gather on Sunday to celebrate the Lord’s Day together once again. The sermon is entitled “Changing Hearts” and the scripture is Acts 16: 11-15.
Be peaceful,
Brad
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