I have at times in my life been just like the sheep described in this reading. With my head down, just following the "herd" in front of me, jumping off the preverbal cliff. I would like to think I am much more discerning of who I follow, and yet I still find myself "waking up" before I fall off the cliff, realizing I have been duped again by someone leading me onto the wrong path. As a ministry leader, the suggestions put forth on page 204, will help insure that I am on the "right" path, and can help those who look to me to be up front leading, that I do not lead myself or others over the cliff of unrighteous thinking and acting.
I do have a standard of behavior that I expect of myself, and of those who are part of my ministry. Each meeting, I go over the guidelines of acceptable conduct, and I am willing to call a person and explain that by their cross talk, they have made the group unsafe. I have faced people's anger, excuses, and sincere apologizes.
I could not agree more that clear and consistently enforced "rules" of conduct are vital to the growth and integrity of my walk with Our Lord, and for my ministry.
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