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44your secret.' The preacher said, 'I don't have any secrets.' The intern insisted 'No, no, don't give me that. There is something different about you than other people who have preached, I want to know what it is.' He said, \'No, you tell me, is there anything in your life?' The preacher said, 'Thirty years ago when I went into the pulpit, I made a covenant with God. I told Him if He would bless what I do, that I would read the New Testament each week.' He said, 'In 30 years, I've never missed a week in that commitment.'\the Word? 2.Accept suggestions or accept feedback.\ the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance%u2014\1:5) Sometimes when you listen, you're going to have to listen to criticism. That's okay as long as it's from a good source one who loves you and who's wise. Consider Proverbs 25:12, \earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.\Folks, when you're in the presence of someone who is knowledgeable, someone you trust and someone who loves you, listen to them. Whether they encourage you or whether they correct you, the feedback is essential to the maximum life. I don't know how many ofyou are into rocket guidance; probably not all that many, but when NASA launches a rocket to go up to the moon or Mars or whatever, do you know how they do that? It's not that easy to do because the earth is constantly moving, the moon is constantly moving around the earth, both those bodies are moving around the sun and our whole solar system is moving through space. How do you keep that rocket on track? They don't just program in the direction and say, \own.\home computer which is constantly sending back to correct the course. There is a constant feedback to keep that rocket on course. That's the way it is in life and that's why we need mentors. Now whenever I say that to an older Christian, his first reaction is, \mistakes in my life, I couldn't be a mentor.\you just need to be just one step ahead. We need models to motivate us and mentors to mold us.3.Partners to propel you. People who are committed to the same life mission that you have motivate and spur you toward your common goals. Jesus had 12 of them didn't he? If you read the New Testament, Paul had nine. Everybody needs a partner.Very few people ever stop and ask: %u201cWhat am I going to do with my life?%u201d If you've been serious about this study, if you've taken notes, if you have developed a life mission and a life vision and if you've got concrete goals to take you to that maximum life you are among less than one percent of the people in this nation. That means you are going to have to actively seek out

