Daily Power #302

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)

The choice to connect with someone can produce benefits beyond our wildest dreams. He’s gone on to heaven now, but Lyle Schaller was around seventy-five years of age when we met. He was a legendary church consultant, and our church was only a couple years old at the time.

Because our space was so small, we had to hold three services just to accommodate everyone who wanted to attend. When I spoke with Lyle, I was considering adding a fourth service, but after hearing my explanation, he said, “That’s the problem with you young guys: you all think so small.”

Ouch. Not what I expected to hear. “You shouldn’t be thinking three or four services. You should be thinking about doing seven services at your first location and then seven at your second, third, fourth, and so on.”

My jaw hit the ground. Was this old dude insane? SEVEN?! I considered politely thanking him for his time and making my escape.

But I had to hear more. The more he talked, I realized that my new friend Lyle wasn’t crazy. He could simply envision a future no one else could see. And he was right. Today our church conducts over a hundred and fifty services each week at more than two dozen locations in eight different states.

God brought Lyle into my life at the perfect time to have maximum impact for others. God brings certain people into your life for the same reason.

Power Lift

Dear Lord, help me pay attention and listen to those people you’ve brought into my life for your purposes. What seems impossible for me is easy for you.