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Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
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Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
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Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2008

Grace Church of Burlington January 6, 2008 “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind.”   William James             King Solomon wrote “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov. 23:7 NASV). Our thoughts and attitudes make us.    According to a poll conducted on USA Today’s website 80% of Americans make at least one New Year’s resolution, but research indicates that many of those setting New Year’s goals will have broken them by March. Though most of us have a history of breaking our New Year’s commitments, year after year we continue to make them. Why? I think it’s because deep down we really want to improve.             Among the most popular resolutions are commitments to lose weight, reduce debt or break a bad habit. These are noble aspirations and, if kept, would certainly have positive results. However, there is one area of life that is usually overlooked and one that will not only help us keep our resolutions, but also will impact virtually every area of our lives. What is this important aspect of life that is often ignored? Our attitude. There is probably no other area of our lives that so affects us.             A mother and her pre-teen daughter embarked on a day of shopping. Several little things went wrong before the pair left home. To add to the day’s frustrations, traffic was snarled. Mom and daughter finally reached the mall a couple of hours behind the mother’s intended schedule. At the first stop the mother was very short with a salesperson. As they exited the store, Mom huffed, “Did you see the look that woman gave me?” The little girl replied, “Oh, Mama, she didn’t give you that look, you had it when you went in!”             “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24). “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things,” penned the Apostle Paul. These writers declare what many know to be true, and that is simply this, attitude is everything.             Several years ago the Carnegie Institute analyzed the personnel records of 10,000 employees. The study concluded that 15% of success was due to technical training. The other 85% was the result of one factor: a positive attitude. The Center for Creative Leadership studied 105 executives and found that successful leaders possessed stable, positive attitudes while the unsuccessful ones had outlooks that were unpredictable and critical. A variety of Fortune 500 companies use the following criteria when considering individuals for an executive position: 1) Ambition, 2) Attitude toward company policy, 3) Attitude toward  colleagues,  4)  Supervisory  skills,  5)  Attitude toward  excessive demands on time and energy.             My friend, your attitude is everything and will determine not only how you face each day but also how you face life. A positive attitude will produce good results. “A cheerful heart has a continual feast,” observed the writer of Proverbs. He also wrote, “A joyful heart is good medicine.” And the great news about attitude is that we control it!! No one can give you their attitude. We each choose our own every day.             A man at a construction site opened his lunch sack and began to complain. “Not bologna again,” he whined. “I hate bologna sandwiches. I can’t stand them.” He lamented, “I don’t think I can eat one more bologna sandwich.” A friend asked, “Why don’t you ask your wife to make you something else?” The man moaned, “I can’t, I make my own lunch.”             Attitude is a matter of perspective. You can choose to have a “rejoicing in the day” attitude. A shoe tycoon dispatched two of his top salesmen to a remote area of Africa. In just a few days he received a telegram from both. One read: “No one here wears shoes. The prospect for success is remote.” The other read: “Send more inventory, no one here owns shoes.”             “A positive attitude won’t allow you to do everything,” motivational Christian leader Zig Ziglar once said. “But a positive attitude will allow you to do everything better.” Now that we’re in the beginning of a New Year, why not consider adding one more resolution that will affect every aspect of your life. Focus on cultivating a positive attitude.             Maybe you don’t even know that your attitude needs some adjustments. Why not ask a mature Christian friend if this is an area that you need to focus on? Many times we have sinful attitudes that contaminate our lives and that of those around us...and we don’t even know it. Remember you and you alone choose the “look” you take with you. Why not choose one that is positive and pleasant? This is the day the Lord has made! Choose to rejoice! Choose to be glad in it! Choose to be thankful for it!