Excuses

In my 29 years of full time vocational ministry, I have heard my share of excuses, and unfortunately given my share also. When I was on the road, youth ministers, worship pastors, senior pastors, and administrative assistants would out right lie to me of why a Phil Beck concert was not going to happen at their church rather than to tell me they just didn’t want to do the concert. My favorite all time lie was from a youth minister’s administrative assistant. I was calling a youth minister at a rather well known church in Oklahoma. She said, and I quote. “hold on, he is walking across the room to his office and he will be with you in a moment.” I waited about two minutes and she came back on the line, and again I quote, “oh, he is not here today. Can I take a message and he will call you back tomorrow”? (Tomorrow was Saturday…thus the second lie) Guess what! I never heard from him.

Excuses can be lies wrapped up in a softer package, but they are still lies. When we look at why we give excuses, we have to go back to last week’s “ex” word…examine. Scripture says “out of the heart, the mouth speaks.” OUCH! So my heart’s words are fueling those excuses….those are just down right hard words, but honest. When we start analyzing our heart is when we find out the truth.

I challenge us all to be truthful, honest, people. Examine before we offer an excuse. Think about it.

Love you,
pb