Rev. Stephen P. "Gutty" Gutridge

Rev. Stephen P. "Gutty" Gutridge
This blog is my comments on current cultural and church happenings along with answers to your questions. I will make an honest effort to answer everything you ever wanted to ask about God, faith, the Bible, Jesus Christ, etc.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Clearing Brush and Other Presidential Stuff

We live on a small farm that has pastures with horse run-ins and a wonderful four-stall barn. The property is for sale and we moved out of state March 1, 2006. I hired someone to mow the property and keep the fence lines clear. That did not happen. You cannot trust someone to do work like that if you are not there to monitor what they do. We visited in late July and found that the property was totally overgrown.

This is probably what the President has to deal with as well. He often returns to his ranch in Crawford, TX and ends up clearing brush. First, it is cathartic, second, even he can't count on someone else doing what needs to be done.

We moved back to the farm temporarily to beat back mother nature. The weather here has been the driest August on record and it made brush clearing so much easier than expected. This weekend Ernesto hit the area and we have had more than enough rain. It has made brush clearing so much more difficult.

Today my wife, sons, daughter-in-love, brother and grandchildren all pursued the brush clearing. We worked all day, burned brush, dodged poison ivy and generally made a huge dent in the overgrowth. I have been working evenings and extra hours for several weeks. All the help today was a tremendous blessing. Tomorrow we mow the lawns and pastures again. Why? We have a showing Tuesday and are praying for the best. I am exhausted, but there is a wonderful cathartic effect clubbing through thick brush with a machete or trudging along behind a brush mower.

If it were a perfect world we would pay this place off, move our children into the houses, build a third house for my wife and me and then enjoy watching our grandchildren grow. But, after all, I still need to work and you don't always get what you want.

Friday, September 01, 2006

"So What!"

The “So What” Factor

Many years ago I adopted a very simple critique method for all my sermons and teachings, my writing and my discussions. I simply asked the question, “So what?” I am not attempting to be glib or disrespectful. My intention in asking the question was simple. Did what I have to say have any permanent value? Did it bring honor to Jesus Christ? Did it have lasting eternal value to those that listened?

Sadly, I had to confess to myself that much of what I said was of no real value. I spent hours studying, reading, researching and preparing sermons, lessons and articles. Was my time well spent? I grew spiritually and professionally, so the time was not completely wasted, yet, what I delivered to others often was of little real kingdom value.

As a result, I began to think differently, prepare differently, write differently, and speak differently. How could I stand before Jesus one day and give an account for my own wasted talents and the time and talents of others? I could hardly bear the thought. Major changes began to percolate within me. I became motivated to not waste any effort. If I cannot give my best then I must not expend the energy. The same goes for my preaching, writing and speaking. To the best of my ability I strive to offer value, eternal value through what I say and write.

The “so what” factor now permeates all that I do professionally and personally. I am not perfect in this as my close friends, colleagues and family will readily point out, but I am striving for the prize. An immediate way to evaluate what we think and do whether it is trips, conferences, meetings, phone conferences, etc. is to ask ourselves regularly, “so what?” I invite you to join me in asking this telling question. Apply to everything you do.