Michael Jordan on success:: Friday E-Devotion

I read from a lot of angles and from various leaders and theologians. Didn't quite expect it from the person you about to hear from. The following blog post is from Kent Shaffer, a marketing guru and a Christian leader:

"From Good to Great According to Michael Jordan"

Michael Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. But his road to success has come a long way since he was cut from his high school basketball team. He once shared his secret to greatness:

"Heart is what separates the good from the great."

Natural ability will make you good. Big budgets will make you good. Fantastic marketing will make you good. But it takes heart to be great. Greatness lies in diligence, perseverance, and drive. Greatness lies in the intangibles.

Heart is never content but always pushes you to a greater level. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great, explains:

"Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life."

Just because you experience a sales success or management success or any success, don't trade your heart for contentment. Greatness does not come in the leap of one sole success, but it comes from the inching forward of one success after another.

Heart is not about comparing yourself to others but about comparing yourself to your past. It is about constant self-improvement. There will always be someone smarter than you, stronger than you, and faster than you. But your heart will determine how you measure up in the long run. Your heart is your key to greatness

Not what I often expect from Jordan, but there is deep insight. Think about how God has gifted you and how your heart plays a part in what you do.

Why is it that Jesus talked so much about our hearts? Proverbs 4:23 tells us to "guard our hearts". Listen to what Jesus said:

Mark 7:15 (nlt) --- It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.

John 7:38 (nlt) --- Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.

I recall something I heard a while back...one leader said something like "I'd rather have 5 people with vision and heart than 10 people with great ability." Think about it!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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