Scott Jenkins

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

I’ve read this quote so many times and yet was reminded of its truth again today when I read it in a book about the Leadership secrets of Billy Graham.  This is what I want my life to be about.  I want to follow the journey God has in store for me and I want to live it with all the passion and energy I can muster.

I was watching a show this weekend about Rick Warren (the author of Purpose Driven Life) and his new dream/mission to rid Africa and the world of poverty and disease.  It was such a powerful testament of the power of God to use one person to ignite a course of action that will change the world.  In the interview Rick Warren was asked about all the people that feel he will never be able to rid the world of poverty and disease and his answer was that when they make his tombstone they need to only put four words on it and they are “At Least He Tried”.  I was inspired and moved and only hope that I can follow God with as much passion and faith as him.

It also has me really thinking about where I see God leading me.  I do believe that we can change the world through the local church.  I do believe that we need to plant churches and start businesses that better communities and that help lead people to Jesus Christ.  I also believe that this can be done and that we must begin this now.  Will it succeed or will it fail?  I don’t know but I am ready to trust in God and find out.  I have a feeling it is going to be an awesome journey!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 5th, 2006 at 10:32 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.