Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Teachability

Capable of being taught; apt to learn; Willing to receive instruction or to learn;

"What really counts in life is what you learn after you know it all." ~John Wooden

The older we get, the more set in our ways we are likely to be. The older we get, the harder it is to master new skills and adapt to new methods. The older we get, the more likely we are to tune out ideas that would require re-thinking a point of view.

A key to success in every profession or business is teachability.

In one's personal spiritual life, pride is among the deadliest of sins for the simple reason that it prohibits learning.

We must remember that Jesus rebuked folks who wouldn't think or grow.

And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. ~Matthew 18:3

According to the Bible, a fool is not someone who is mentally deficient. It has nothing to do with intellect, test scores, or degrees of education. The Bible defines a fool as a person with a propensity to ignore correction and continue in his own way. Jesus clearly teaches that to rebel against His word, continually making the wrong decisions, is to be a fool.

More good ideas have been killed with "We've never done it that way before" than with good reasons as to why it shouldn't be done some new way.

Prejudice against all things new is self-defeating and unworthy of people in God's image. There are no uninteresting ideas, only disinterested people.

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~Isaiah 43:19

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of the mind for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards. As we learn and Grow, we are Blessed.

Teachers open the door. But You must enter by yourself.

Unfortunately Even Experience teaches only the teachable.

It is better to learn late than never. ~Syrus

As long as you're green, you're growing. As soon as you're ripe, you start to rot. ~Ray Kroc

He who stops being better stops being good. ~Oliver Cromwell

Teachable to the End..........

President Theodore Roosevelt is remembered as an outspoken man of action and proponent of the vigorous life. While in the White House, he was known for regular boxing and judo sessions, vigorous horseback rides, and long, strenuous hikes.

At different times in his life, TR (Roosevelt's nickname) was a cowboy in the Wild West, an explorer and big-game hunter, and a rough-riding cavalry officer in the Spanish-American War. His enthusiasm and stamina seemed boundless. As the vice-presidential candidate in 1900, he gave 673 speeches and traveled 20,000 miles while campaigning for President McKinley. And years after his presidency, while preparing to deliver a speech in Milwaukee, Roosevelt was shot in the chest by a would-be assassin. With a broken rib and a bullet in his chest, Roosevelt insisted on delivering his one-hour speech before allowing himself to be taken to the hospital.

Roosevelt's list of accomplishments is remarkable. Under his leadership, the United States emerged as a world power. He helped the country develop a first-rate navy. He built the Panama Canal. He negotiated peace between Russia and Japan, winning a Nobel Peace Prize in the process. And when people questioned TR's leadership-he had become president when McKinley was assassinated-he campaigned and was reelected by the largest majority of any president up to his time.

Ever the man of action, when Roosevelt completed his term as president in 1909, he immediately traveled to Africa where he led a scientific expedition sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. And in 1913 he co-led a group to explore the uncharted River of Doubt in Brazil. It was a great learning adventure he said he could not pass up. "It was my last chance to be a boy,” he later admitted. He was fifty-five years old.

On January 6, 1919, at his home in New York, Theodore Roosevelt died in his sleep. At the time, Vice President Thomas Riley Marshall said, "Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight." When they removed him from his bed, they found a book under his pillow. Up to the very last, TR was still striving to learn and improve himself.

We are Not who we want to be. But we are Not who we used to be!

Deb & I are “growing” through Change with you.

Let’s All stay Teachable!

If you are Teachable you WILL WANT to check out our “Study Tool” this week.

“Power-Book” (study tool)

Feed – Back “Comment” Question!

Can a person actively change their nature, or are we all stuck the way we are? And if a person does change is it just because his or her environment changed, causing him or her to react in a different way because their nature makes them? I know my opinion. What's yours?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also can you do good who are accustomed and taught [even trained] to do evil.
Jeremiah 13:23 (Amplified Bible)

Anonymous said...

Morrning Pastor Mark, good blog, especially the mini lesson on TR. he was an interesting president, and though I knew a lot about him I did not know about the book under his pillow. You really can learn something everyday! I pray that I am always teachable, ever learning and growing in my walk with Him. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Have a good day!
PattyP

Ginny S. said...

I believe that being stuck is a learning experience and changing our nature is a decision we make. However, we must go through this process in close communion with Christ. I also believe that our environment plays a big role in our attitude toward change. We must keep an open mind and always remember that "All things work together for good to them that love God". Change equals growth!

Mark said...

GI-Joe
I read your comments. Thought they were very personal so did not post but if you will contact me via email through our web address at www.NewLifeCt.com I know we can through Jesus HELP YOU!
Mark Evans

Bob A said...

Great Study PM....Great Selah too

People Choices....made a couple of bad ones where we wound up unequally "yoked"....they came to an end, but by the hand of God, we wound up friends serving the same Lord....He can do that to us.

As for "teachability" and changing ones "nature" I believe (as you've said before) we all have God's DNA within us, so I say YES WE CAN change. It happened in the reference I made above about the Selah. It may not always be our environment that changes us, but I know God's DNA is always PULLING at us and takes the path of least resistance at times pulling us back to His "divine nature" at just the right time, and brings us closer to the "love for one another" we have been talking about.

2 Peter 1:3-8 (Amplified Bible)
3For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [[a]full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

4By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.

5For this very reason, [b]adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in [c]exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),

6And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),

7And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.

8For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [[d]full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Praise Him for never leaving us alone \O/

Grinder said...

Teddy Roosevelt, one of the greatest presidents and one of my role models. Read the book RIVER OF DOUBT, great read!!!

Bob A said...

We can change !

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (Amplified Bible)

11For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

12Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

13Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.(A)

.....it's in our DNA ....He does have a plan for us \O/

Unknown said...

"Think outside the frying pan....get a deep fryer!" hahah...
had to be at Bible Study!!!

CHANGE, MODIFYING, ACCEPTING INSTRUCTION, man I sure hope I'm not stuck where I'm at because I want ALL that I've been taught for my life these past couple months... and I KNOW God is with me, helping me, showing me by His Holy Spirit, convicting me, leading me into a better place! I think our environment does make a difference in our attitude, let me tell ya, I'm SO THANKFUL, I'm here at New Life, taking in and trying to "live" what God is doing!!! Hope that makes sense?


God is Good....
He does not give up on us...
He's with ME...
Change, Modifying CAN BE hard...
but I choose to Trust Him, He knows better than me!!!
So glad He sees me for who I CAN BECOME.

Thanks PM for the great Blog, and awesome Selah.

God knows ALL things doesn't he!

Nichole T

Tish Coleman said...

Awesome blog PM! I think that we can change our nature, but we have to "WANT" to change. Sometimes we are stuck in a rut because we do not seek guidance to get out. My prayer has been this, "Lord open up my spiritual eyes so that I can see what you have for me."
I also think that changing your environment helps to change your nature. You will never learn and grow if you don't leave behind the things that set you back.
I am so thankful for the teachings that we have had on Thursday's on how to modify our behavior. I have learned so much and I am asking God to help me to put that into action. I can always be better than who I am.

Thank you Lord for being so good! Help me to remain teachable! Help me to continue to learn and grow in my walk with you!

Thanks PM For your encouragement and guidance.

Tish

kronickwino said...

Man, PM, you really spoke to me the other night at Study Hall about the profitability of change. It was humbling to hear you question actions based on a bad state of affairs: 'what are you doing going out to buy something when you are in debt to another person?'. I needed to hear that to have conviction in my heart to change what I am doing, change for the purpose I am living towards, God's purpose, and being responsible! AMEN! I am so happy that the bible teaches us that each day is NEW! That is a serious blessing!

-Natalie

Willie... said...

Being TEACHABLE is something that God convicted me of a long time ago, now. I came to Christ here at New Life in late 1985, and was Baptized on Jan 26'th of 1986. That seems like such a long time ago!

Before that, I had been living a SINNER'S life! Yet, deep down, I was still searching for God, searching for His Truth, but not finding it... until that day I came to New Life! One of the first things that impressed me, was the sound system! (I am totally serious!) The music was excellent, and I was SHOCKED to see a DRUM SET in Church! :) (I wonder how much more strongly I would have reacted NOW! LOL! MAN, Kim and I sure do LOVE the MUSIC we are BLESSED with! It opens the heart and spirit to receive the WORD that follows!!)

Anyway, one of the first things I remember learning here, was to be TEACHABLE. The Holy Spirit then BURNED that into my heart, and it remains to this day! :)

Many times, now, during my 23+ year walk with Christ, I have been challenged and had to be corrected. Sometimes, PAINFULLY!

Every time, ESPECIALLY the painful times, I would ask the LORD to help me LEARN from the experience, and from the advice I was given... yes, even when it HURT to receive it!

I look at those with more knowledge and experience than I with deep respect and admiration. I love to be around people that are smarter than I am, because I know that I can LEARN something from them! (Suggestion: Keep a notebook & pen handy!!)

Still... the old flesh and PRIDE sometimes try to well up inside, creating resistance to what is being taught or told to me. This is when the "battle" begins... and I cry out to the LORD to help me LEARN and be TEACHABLE.

Being teachable is the ONLY way to GROW and to LEARN! I know that I still have a LOT to learn, and a long way to go, especially when it comes to being a USEFUL vessel in the Master's service.

Ever since Christ truly entered my heart as my LORD, my heart's cry has been, "LORD, please keep me TEACHABLE in JESUS' NAME!!" \o/

Willie... said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bob A said...

Fantastic Selah today PM !!

I'm so thankful for the constant flow of encouragement between the Selah and the Twitter....it's speaking to me...thank you soo much !!! You're a great Pastor.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New Living Translation)

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Guys, Check out these Praise songs
Volume up!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQaolD8FCwQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Uj_B0KNgU&feature=related

Praise Him \o/

Bob A said...

Hey Guys,

When I'm doin quiet time reading the Selah, the Blog, etc. I have a bunch of Praise Songs on my computer desk-top screen to punch up.....I think it's a great way to read and listen to praise songs....a tremndous LIFT !!! \O/

Try these and copy them to your desk-top:

this we know from this past Sunday
MIGHTY TO SAVE ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJUn7M7wUKM&feature=PlayList&p=31FDD23C035CE604&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=18

HE IS LORD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQaolD8FCwQ&feature=related

SHOUT TO THE LORD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBaBnPt-tuE

AMAZED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qVkzdK6N20

OCEANS WILL PART
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7Uj_B0KNgU&feature=related

MARY DID YOU KNOW
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0WIJw8JVeU

DESERT SONG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WYK6TxWX7s&NR=1

MADE ME GLAD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0Zc_VWJJoI&feature=PlayList&p=782EE636F14A36D9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=31

AWESOME IN THIS PLACE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faiLQCuoskM

HEALER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5qoQmjwv-0

REMEMBER VOLUME UP !! \O/\o/\O/

Willie... said...

Hey, Bob... thank you for the link to "Mighty to save" I just found a MUCH BETTER one!!! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYZQ6KN13jU&feature=related

Wow... I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! \o/ I'm listening to it GOOD AND LOUD right now, with tears flowing... OH MAN, THIS VERSION IS AWESOME!!!!

Thank you, Pastor Jason and the Worship Team for bringing it to us!! \o/

Bob A said...

Another great Praise Song....goes right with what we are moving towards at New Life...."the God of a second chance"....Sing over me Lord...."teach me".

SING OVER ME
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGyj2Wp8MBE

check it out.....volume up!!

Bob A said...

By the way if you get the itunes cut of Sing Over Me by Israel Houghton and Cindy Crus Ratcliff of the Lakewood Band it's a version loaded with steroids!! wheeewwww !!