Owners Random Thoughts
We are more alike than some want us to believe.
Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less. If we fail to influence elected officials, or be in positions of government, then we fail to lead. I am one who is tired. I am tired of speaking to people about matters of importance to have them change the subject to sports, weather, or other mundane topics. I am weary of listening to people gripe but be unwilling to write an email or spend any money to help a candidate or just voice their opinion on a matter to someone in authority. It is very discouraging to do those things myself and then try to encourage others to do the same to hear them say “I know I should, but….”
We are so “busy” attending our kids or grandkids sporting events, hauling them around to said events, watching TV, scrolling through social media, reading about Hollywood celebrities’ latest drama or any number of things that will not matter five years from now, but are unwilling to spend 15 minutes to do something to make a difference in the law making/government process.
The reason we have all this technology and life of ease and pleasure is because many people who have gone before us sacrificed their entire lives to end slavery, keep government spending to a minimum, fought wars to end tyranny of other governments, made speeches and written books to educate people on what happens when we ignore our freedoms. “If you ignore it, it will go away”. It is not only cliché, but also true.
It is time to stop ignoring our freedoms. We need to continue to encourage those committed to maintaining them. To be people who discuss uncomfortable but important matters. We need to speak about political, spiritual, and economic freedom. We should study these subjects, listen to people who understand and promote them, and go to conferences. We need to associate with others and influence a growing number of people to sustain this great country and the freedoms we enjoy.
Leaders sometimes walk a lonely path. Leaders are not average. Leaders make a difference for generations to come and for untold numbers of people. When a leader changes one mind it can become exponentially altered. That one person may impact a dozen, who each impact a dozen….. and that could change the direction of future generations in ways only God knows.
God has created us each to make a difference in our sphere of influence. I encourage you to start today living that life of significance. If you have slowed or stopped making the effort to lead, take up that mantle again and run once more with a renewed spirit that you matter. You matter for that one person who needs to hear what you have to say. The one who tells another, and another until your efforts are multiplied and freedom is restored to the way it was designed to be lived. Politically, spiritually, and economically.
To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.
Gal. 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Heb 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us….
Why that matters is, we are surprised and disappointed when people do things we don't think are beneficial. The truth is, people do things for themselves with rarely a thought of other people. Dale Carnegie in the best selling book How to Win Friends and Influence People says people always do things "for themselves" and not "to you." We are easily offended at people thinking they somehow have it out for us, when the truth is they are trying to please themselves and you just happen to be in the way of that.
Why does this matter? Perspective. When our expectation is that people are really trying to do things to help us, and be nice to us, and we should expect that, we are destined for disappointment and frustration. If we set our expectation to be that people are thinking of themselves and how to have a better life for their own family's, then our level of frustration will be MUCH less and we can go live a great life!
ADVICE 10/1/24
The importance of advice.
Good advice is VERY rare in today’s world. Everyone seems to be wanting to sell you something, convince you that their way is right, and some just plain ding-dong ideas are being promoted in society as “mainstream”. In a time where wisdom and sound advice is needed more than ever, it seems to be rare and elusive.
There are sources of foundational wisdom we can turn to in times of difficulty and confusion. One main place is the Bible. God’s one book He gave us as an instruction manual. If the Creator of the universe gives us a book, He probably expects us to read it and live by it. In my years here on planet earth, it has been my experience that when I live by the Bible’s direction and instruction, things go way better than when I do things contrary to God’s design.
So how does this relate to the car industry? We all should get advice on buying a car. After all, it is the second biggest purchase of a person’s life! We SHOULD want wisdom outside of our own understanding. The problem is, most people are eager to give their opinions on EVERYTHING! We should be very careful about whose opinions we give credence to. Proverbs 12:15 says “ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel.”
There are two lessons here. One is, do WE listen to wise counsel or just run off our own limited understanding and experience. Second, do we get counsel from wise people? And how do we know if they are wise? Do THEY listen to wise people? Do they have “fruit on the tree”. Do they live well, and have results that you would like to have? Do they have more years of experience than you?. The bible further says, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD. (PR 9:10) Are they a person who follows after God’s design?
We basically have the following choices:
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1. We can choose to follow our own limited knowledge
2. We can listen to our friends who may be great friends and have a lot of fun but may or may not have wisdom in the particular area we need advice in. -
3. We can listen to someone, or several different people, with experience who tend to make wise choices and get their input. -
4. Once we have gathered all the input, we ultimately have to decide for ourselves what is wise. Of course we would recommend prayerful consideration as God leads you in your decision making process. He designed you and knows best your specific needs.
We pray God’s best for your lives and hope to meet you soon. Stop by any time to visit and let us get to know you better.
Until then, enjoy the great political and economic Freedom we have been granted in this country, and the spiritual Freedom through Jesus!
