“A few basic rules of thumb about life seem to keep cropping up again and again, shaping my ministry,” writes pastor Gary K. Odle. He offers this collection of pastoral wit and wisdom to help people find peace in the ministry. “It’s certainly no replacement for Scripture,” he advises, “but it’s not bad, either.”
There is a God. You’re not him.
Everybody thinks his duck is a swan.
Ask most people for advice on knowing God’s will for your life, and they will tell you God’s will for their life with your name on it.
Not everything you try to do will succeed-nor should it.
No one can make you do anything. Your choices are your own.
Standard of living is not the same as quality of life.
Sometimes we just have to make it up as we go along. When those we respect do it, we call it “creativity” and “being on the cutting edge.” When we do it, we’re tempted to think we’re “faking it” and condemn ourselves for not knowing enough.
Sometimes the best thing to do is cry. It does wonders to purge the soul and clear the mind.
Whatever comes, God is big enough to handle it, and he is handling it, even when it looks as if neither is true. God can even handle your rage about his poor job performance.
If someone hurts you, first try to figure out whether that hurt was intentional or not. Not every hurt is an attack.
Too much analysis can be paralysis. Sometimes you just have to make a decision and get moving. The answers, if you need them, will come eventually. If they don’t come, you didn’t really need them.
When you’ve done all you can do, you’ve done all you can do.
-Gary K. Odle
First Baptist Church of Falun
Falun, Wisconsin
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