Laurie KennedyAn old goat was thirsty and sensed water. Old Billy wandered through grassy lands, forest and around hills until he found water. Satisfied, he returned around hills, through forest and grasses to his original resting place. On another hot and thirsty day he followed his same path. Unknown to Billy, a family of rabbits, a couple of deer and a moose used his trail. The fascinating conclusion of this tale is the reality that Billy’s trail was used by generations of animals. Decades later, explorers also used Billy’s now widened trail to map the new land for settlers. As the future unfolds we find roads, highways, towns and cities have grown up around Billy’s trail. We owe a portion of our history to an old long gone goat.

Old Billy has also influenced some of our church traditions. I found a Sunday Bulletin used in our church 48 years ago. It has some historical interest for us. But, what shocked me was its similarity and almost identical features to many of the church bulletins we see in our travels today.

“Habits become ingrained (good and bad ones). And then everyone gets too over-busy to think about how there might be a better way to do something.” (Patty Azzarello, Fast Company)

Leaders, my challenge to you today is to initiate an annual review of everything you do. Look at your ushers, your flow of service, singing, offering, visitors and volunteers. Stand firm on your scriptural principles but review and update everything else to be sure you are representing God’s love today. Don’t let tradition and ‘the way we have always done it’ reduce your ability to influence your community for Christ.

“Give careful thought to your ways.  You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.” (Haggai 1:5-7 NIV)

Leadership is … ensuring everything we do is pleasing to God.

Yours in Service,

Laurie D. Kennedy
Leadership Coach
Jethro Group
ldkjethrogroup@gmail.com