Angelus' Quote: Become An Original Leader

"You become a leader," said late Myles Munroe, "when you decide not to be a copy but an original." I think, a leader does not set out to be a leader per se, but rather to maximize herself fully and freely. True leaders have no interest in themselves or position, but an abiding interest in expressing themselves.

First, you might need to imitate but soon or later you have be an original - original leader 😉

____________

Want to Buy Book(s)? https://my.carousell.com/richard_angelus/

Blog: https://richardangelus.me

IG: https://instagram.com/richard_angelus

Twitter: https://twitter.com/angelus_richard

YouTube: https://youtu.be/GW-6NTrAmRE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Reflection on John 20:25-28: Thomas said, “Unless I see”

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
(Psalm 94:19NLT)

Jesus was sentenced to be crucified (to know more, read from John 19 onward or just read the entire book would be great). He was really dead. His body was wrapped and buried in the tomb. After 3 days, the tomb was empty! It is like what he said to his disciples long before this event took place, “We are going to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:31NIV) He was raised from the dead! He appeared to his disciples in many occasions… but sadly, not when Thomas was there… he missed it!

Thomas, one of Jesus’ twelve disciples who also known today as Doubting Thomas (Hah! For once upon a time, I was a Doubting Richard!), didn’t believe that Jesus was risen from the dead. When the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ He replied, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand on his side, I will not believe it.’ (John 20: 25).

As ex-doubter myself, I understand why he says ‘unless I see...’ He doubted, I doubted, everyone of us may doubt once in a while. ‘But he already walks with Jesus, hear his teachings, and saw Jesus performed miracles. Why can’t he believed?’ some of you may asked. Well, up to this day you breathe the air – why there are times you also doubt the existence of God? Doubt is normal; don’t blame yourself for doubting what you may have believed. See from the text, Jesus didn’t scold Thomas for his honest-replied. Thomas, as I understand here, is not like todays ‘just believe’ self-talk chant, he want to know was Jesus really rise from the dead. That is not a crime to ask for authenticity of the news. He wants to see for himself. He doesn’t want to settle for 2^nd hand – he want to see and believe. He wants a 1^st hand faith.

I bet he was struggled with this news. Maybe he was praying, maybe not. Maybe he was expecting for Jesus to come again, maybe he just nearly giving up. Whatever he may have thoughts, only after 1 week later; his doubt finally encountered the truth.

“Jesus came and stood among them [his disciples, including Thomas] and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:26-28)

See! God doesn’t mind when you doubt as long as you are seeking Jesus in the midst of it. If you read the Bible it may not surprise you that David, John the Baptist, Peter and many other biblical heroes all struggled with doubt. Doubt can become sin if it leads you away from God toward skepticism, cynicism, or hard-heartedness. But doubt can be beneficial when honest searching leads you closer to God and strengthen your faith.

Some of you may not like Thomas. You have great faith. But here I’m writing for those who doubt sometime, you have little faith and you want to ‘see’. Thus, you need to hear Jesus speaks, “Stop doubting and believe.”

May as he revealed himself to you, my dear friend,
you will acknowledge Jesus as ‘My Lord and God.’

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Week 16: Be Original - Durian cannot become Coconut

(Warning: This is a fiction story)
I asked Durian,’ Who do you want to be; the best durian in the world?’
Durian makes that sad face and said, ‘I want to be Coconut.’

‘Hey, why you want to be coconut?’ I’m confused. First, I thought Durian is the King of Fruit in Malaysia and every fruits want to have that title. Second, I’m confused; why I talked to Durian???

‘Because coconuts are very useful; they can be use for cooking… bla bla.’
I was thinking how in the world Durian know about Coconut so well, I can’t believe this.

‘You’re created as Durian. Be it! Not everyone like you, especially your smell… but most people does. You’re created an original, don’t die shaping yourself to be coconut...  don't copy other fruits.’ I said while looking at 'him' tried to shaping flat 'his' spikes out. Durian then smiles back at me and lo and behold, it was a dream. [Does that sound familiar?]

Eric Hoffer said, ‘When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other’. When Michael Jackson died (or even before he died), many of his raging fan try to imitate him; the way he walks, talks and especially his famous dance ‘Moon Walk’. There’s nothing wrong when we try to exemplify someone else, but there’s a point when we need to realize that who we are is who we are created to be. None like you, you’re custom made. You’re originally made; you’re the only one in all of creation who has your set of abilities.

So stop copy someone else, be original. There are things that you just can’t do or don’t have, don’t worry. You are not created to be all things to all people. But you can be something for some people. Durian cannot be coconut, but Durian is King after all.
‘The copy adapts himself to the world, but the original tries to adapt the world to him’ writes John L. Mason. He continued, ‘While the original is always hard to find, he is eay to recognize. God leads every soul in an individual way.’

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

When you become the original you, you will learn to know God's will for your life... and always, God's will is good and pleasing and perfect for you. Do you want to be original? THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.