Do you have a community? It is not good for a man to be alone and this is a need for every person, to belong and to connect with others. You were not meant to lead an alienated and isolated life. How strong is your community? For most communities are structured on voluntary association, and people can choose to belong or not, and how involved they want to be if they are, and this includes churches. Do you see the value of accountability? Most people accept this in principle even if it is hard to practice.

Are you special? The egocentric part of every person would like to claim this, as somehow superior to others. You are a unique creation, but this applies to everyone else as well, so it doesn’t elevate one above another. You receive my favor and blessing, but I do this for everyone, in fact I send sun and rain on the evil and on the good alike. An even stronger statement is that I open my hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Arguments for being special create strife and a competition hierarchy.

When I developed cancer, I realized that there were five or six events that happened in my life like a tsunami, which l believe had lowered my immune system and had opened the door for cancer to flourish.

I told my disciples how the gentiles viewed authority, loving to lord it over one another when they could, but it was not to be so among my followers. I did not reject the concept of authority, but said that those who would hold positions of spiritual authority were to be as servants. Since my church is a voluntary association, those in leadership positions only have the authority that people are willing to give them. In this way authority is intrinsic rather than by title or office. You have to earn it by love and trust. Do not be discouraged if you are in a leadership position.