Rough Riders And New Ventures

I was recently reading about the Spanish American War and Theodore Roosevelt (to whom, according to my brother, I am a distant relative). The Spanish American War came at a time when America had never really been involved in overseas military ventures. The army was more suited to it's recent forays against warring tribes of natives than it was for any sort of prolonged expedition.

But, this was changed the way the U.S. fought wars and it's perspective on foreign policy. We went from having an army that campaigned with rations left over from the Civil War to a nation with a military power that made a profound impact on the world.

The Spanish American War was something of a convergence of the old world and the new. Generals such as former Confederate General Wheeler fought alongside John J. Pershing of World War One fame. Old West tough guy and Arizona Mayor "Bucky" O'Niell Captained under Roosevelt, the future President. It really was an interesting conglomeration of men and, although it was a seat of your pants venture, it was the first venture of this type that the U.S. had undertaken.

In the Bible Book of Zechariah, it says, "Do not despise these small beginnings..." talking about the building of the temple. As the temple was being built, a rebuilding of the original, may men wept and were discouraged because the start of this one was no where near the splendor of the former one.

Naysayers at the time of the Spanish American War would compare our military might to that of Germany or Great Britain and proclaim that we should not undertake any sort of military action. While it was true that we were not in the league the other superpowers, we never would have gotten in their league without taking some first steps.

I have made some steps in my life that some would say I was not ready for, or did not have the means or abilities to be great at. One was the starting of SouthPort Church in West Sacramento. I had been the Senior Pastor for no more than a couple of years at a small church in a small town. I had never been involved with a New Church 'Plant" or anything of that nature. However, I dove in feet first and after many struggles, challenges and lessons learned, was able to look at a thriving Church that I was instrumental in starting. The Church is still going and we still have some of our best friends ever attending there. It never would have been the case if we didn't decide, at some point, that we had to just step out and do it.

What are some areas where you have stepped out and changed the course of your life? What are some areas that you are pondering diving in to? What do you need to do to prepare for it? What is the poing where you have made all the preparations you can and just need to start?