Surprised by Selfishness

This has been the worst week ever because....
I need money
I miss my boyfriend
I don't like my job
I am arguing with my boss
I have to move..
I need...
I want...
I can't stand it when..
I never get to.......
I........


That was the beginning of many many conversations people had with Andy this week, one of the most difficult weeks of ministry for him in the past 10 years.
I was angry and frustrated with the selfishness of others until I took a minute to examine my own ugly heart.


I care deeply about my friends and family; I usually try to look for the best in people, and in the past few years God has done a lot in my heart in the area of loving my enemies and doing good to those who hate me. (this has been a rough lesson for me, by the way)

Here's something I don't do.

Philippians 2:3
Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.
NLT translation

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself.
NET translation

Think of others as better than yourself??
Treat one another as more important than yourself!?!

Earlier this week, Andy was having horrible stomach pains. While I was taking care of him I kept thinking..
"I really can't get this, I have way too much to do this week"
"I wonder if he touched anything else I need to disinfect"
and "ugh, it takes me so long to get over being sick, if I get this ..."

I have been surprised and mortified by my own selfishness this week, and this is just one example. Since I am worried about making a good impression (contrary to the above scripture verse) I will spare you more examples.

I'm left with two questions...

What does it look like to live a life where you consider others better than yourself?
Is it possible to accomplish this without others constantly taking advantage of you?

The Brady Principle

The Brady Principle

I have a friend who appears comfortable in basically every situation known to man. I imagine him to be as comfortable in a conversation with a with a homeless man as he would be with the Queen of Scotland or perhaps with the most notorious criminal in North America. You basically can't rattle him. If that's not impressive enough..the Bradoman can wrangle his way into any venue without paying and get backstage without authorization at virtually any show. How does he do it? It's simple. He has an uncanny way of acting like he belongs and therefore.....he belongs.
Why am I telling you about Brado? I'm telling you because the Brady principle works. If you should find yourself in an uncomfortable or challenging situation, simply act like you are not uncomfortable. Act like it's natural and imagine that you belong... and you will.

1 question, 3 answers.

Perspective:
All of the answers can be considered "true" but the perspective is very, very different..

Here's the question....
How did the two of you meet?

Three possible "true" answers...

A. I was sitting around in my underwear on a Friday night and I right clicked on her head.

B. We met through the miracle of modern technology!

C. E-harmony.com

hmmm. perspective......