The March addition of the Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast was awesome! It was called “Do For One”. This lesson is helping shape the way I do ministry and work with people. I highly recommend clicking the link above and listening to it. Here is the summary of the lesson.

At a conference Andy was doing a Question and Answer and a woman asked this question: “Andy, with everything you have going on, all these goals, all these changes, creating churches, etc. How do you keep your heart from growing cold toward people? Because there are so many people, you can’t pastor all of them, how do you keep your heart soft?”

Andy’s Response:

“Do For One, What You Wish You Could Do For Everyone”

I don’t know about you, but I love people. I want to make a difference in everybody’s life! However, as I get older and gain more responsibility, I am recognizing that I can’t make a difference (the way I’d like to) in everybody’s life. I don’t have the time, energy, or resources.

When I heard that phrase from Andy, it set me free. I wish I could do for everyone what I can do for a few, but I can’t. But I realized that I can do for a few what I wish I could do for everyone.

So from now on, I’m going to do for a few, what I wish I could do for everyone. Then I am going to train my leaders and people around me to do the same. If we all do for one what we wish we could do for everyone, we will change the world.

Who is going to be your one today? This week? This month?

Go do for them today, what you wish you could do for everyone!

Thoughts?

Hey Everyone,

I am planning on running the Erie Marathon on September 18th, 2011! I’m looking for people who would be interested in the journey! I also have training plans ready to go for anyone interested!

There are 3 Options are Available for running in Erie:

• Full Marathon: 26.2 Miles
• Half Marathon: 13.1 Miles
• 5k: 3.1 Miles

Here are the websites for you to check out!

Erie Marathon Review: http://www.marathonguide.com/races/racedetails.cfm?MIDD=533060910

Erie Marathon Website: http://www.erie-runnersclub.org/marathon/info_2011.php

If you’ve never run a marathon, 1/2 marathon, or 5k, here is a post I wrote on why you should run a marathon!

Even if you don’t want to run the marathon, but you’d like to start running, we’ll be having a running group that meets at North Park on Saturday Mornings to run.

If you are interested, please e-mail me at douglasasmith53@me.com, leave a comment on the blog, or message me on Twitter or Facebook.

Love you guys!

Bubs

In 2005, I started running. When I started I couldn’t run 1/2 a mile and I was overweight. It was very frustrating. I was slow. I always got passed by other people running. I often wanted to give up. It seemed like I had too far to go. It seemed like I wouldn’t make it. Ever been there?

Over time, I pushed through my fears and frustrations. I got faster, ran further, and lost weight. Eventually, I ran a marathon, looked good, and I was the one passing people! Those accomplishments made all the pain and effort worth it. I am so glad I did not give up.

Last summer, I saw an overweight girl running in my neighborhood. She was slow and looked exhausted and frustrated. I said, “Keep going! You’re doing great! You can do this!”

Why was I able to encourage her? Because I knew she was closer than she thought she was to succeeding, to becoming faster, to losing weight. I knew that if she’d make the decision to daily go after it, that after a short period of time, she would be achieving what she once thought was impossible!

We are all closer than we think to our goals. We’re closer than we think to losing weight, running a marathon, finding our future spouse, making a living . . . you name it. You just have to choose to keep going. Choose to take steps toward your goals everyday.

So keep going. Don’t give up.

You’re closer than you think!