The Big Diehl

Everyone stinks at something. Some people stink at a lot of things. Take Louis the Weatherman, for example (that’s a HILARIOUS video - go watch it). Louis is just a very bad weather guy, but I doubt he’s bad at everything. Maybe he’s very gifted at fixing a car or something.

If you stink at being a weatherman, DO SOMETHING ELSE! The secret to being good at everything is to only do the stuff you’re good at (that’s not an absolute statement but a good guideline). Pick out the stuff you do well, and do more of that!

I believe that every Christian is the best person in the world for at least one thing. For example, you might be the best person in the world to share Christ with “Jim” today. You might be the best person in the world to speak into a group of people’s lives. God has set up his Church with gifts and relationships in such a way that every Christian is the best person in the world at something.

Find it. Then do it.

But this is ridiculous. This is the smallest guitar player I’ve ever seen!

David Letterman is famous for his Top Ten lists that he does every night on CBS’s “Late Show.” Usually the lists are complex and interesting, like “Top Ten ways you know its too hot in New York” or “Top Ten reasons to watch Jay Leno” or “Top Ten reasons my Mom is great.”

But tonight the list was the “Top Ten Things.”

Things. It was a list of the top ten THINGS: popcorn shrimp, shark week, balm, snake bite antidote, Tommy Lasorda, Telemundo, Cole Slaw, Season 1 of Magnum P.I. on DVD, Fudge, and Jessica Biel.

This has to be my favorite top ten list David Letterman has ever done. It’s hilarious. Its a top ten list of THINGS.

This simplification made me think of a great saying: “simplify, intensify.” The idea here is that we should do fewer things, but intensify our passion in those things. For example, if I played the tuba, piano, clarinet, drums, violin, cello, flute, and acordian, I will only be decent at all of them. But if I simplify the number of instruments and intensify all of my efforts on just the piano - I can be incredible at the piano. Simplify, intensify. I think this is a continual effort we all need to work towards. Examine your life in terms of the simplify, intensify idea. Every once in a while I think we all need to “clean up” the extra stuff and intensify our focus towards our goals.

Let me share with you a few of my favorite song lyrics from an Aaron Jeoffrey song called “Leave a Legacy”:
“I want to leave a legacy
of a servant who believed
that the world could be changed by just one life.
I want to leave a legacy –
for years from now they’ll see
that I lived only for the cause of Christ.”

For years I’ve been inspired by this challenge. For several years I have lived my life so that when I died, people would remember me and my testimony for Christ. I wanted to live my life so loudly for Christ that my testimony changed lives even after mine was over.

I’m ready to step it up a notch.

When I leave this earth, what do I want to be remembered for? Nothing. I don’t want to be remembered on earth at all.

I want to leave my legacy in Hell!

If there is a man struggling with sinful bondage and I walk into the same room as him, I want the demons to fear what I might ask God to do.

When I sit behind a piano and worship, I want the devil to run.

When I get on my knees, I want there to be red alerts in Hell. I want them to reinforce the gate because of me.

I want to live so that when I leave this earth, Hell remembers me.

Don’t be a wuss. Kill the devil.