The other night we were over at Charlie and Carla Perry’s house.  Carla got a teaching degree and will be teaching elementary this fall – we were celebrating.  They helped us start our church 23 years ago.  They have a son Clinton who finished up at Biola and is now in seminary there.  Clinton was a wild man.  He was always knocking stuff over – very hyper.  He and my son Ben were best friends growing up.  I’m so proud of Clinton.  His parents are in Vietnam on a business trip right now with a group from Glocal Ventures – Charlie has been before – this is Carla’s first trip. 

BUT, this family has been so intertwined with mine in many ways.  The first was Carla’s dad – he planted many churches in the US – many that have become very large.  So when I started NorthWood, he would call me, meet with me over lunch or coffee, challenge me, teach me, encourage me, listen to me – and he really cared – he still does.  Maybe it was because he had his child and her family in our church!  But there is no doubt about it, he made a huge impact on NorthWood. 

When you’re young you question what you can or can’t do.  He never would allow me to entertain ideas about that – it was always – “OK, here is where you are – what are you going to do to get to that next level.”  In his book it wasn’t about me and my ability, but God, his Church, and what he wanted, and doing the right things. 

The number one thing most of us deal with is self-doubt.  As long as you live with that – you never move forward.  If you can ever see that it really isn’t your ability – but his work in and through you – you can move forward.  It’s not all up to us – it’s up to him.  If it’s his call it will fulfill his will.