When Does Failure = Success?

From REAL Men RoCK Blog  posted August 8, 2009

Sometimes we attempt to do something that doesn't turn out as we hoped.  It appears to be one BIG Failure.  Today my wife, Kat, and I sponsored a Kickball Fun Day which started with a Pancake breakfast catered by world famous Chris Cakes.

My wife dreamed the event up to help some friends who are struggling because of the husband's illness.  

Today rolled around and we had no teams signed up and once breakfast was over we found we had spent $200 to pull in $85 worth of donations for our friends.  In most people's book this event was one BIG failure.  I see it differently.  Sure we spent $200 and had no teams show up but lots of positive things have come out the whole event.

Kat is a very talented woman but for all of our marriage I have been the person who has been in the spot light.  This event was her idea and grew out of a desire to help someone else.  I am so proud of her because she not only said she cared for our friends but she tried to do something about it.  

A couple of men who did not know each other sat and talked for a couple of hours about life and their walk as followers of Jesus.

Several people who knew each other but had lost contact with each other saw each other at this event.

When we look at stories in the Bible we find times of failure or trials that God turns into success. Look at the story of Noah in Genesis 6, 7, 8 & 9, the story of Abram in Genesis 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18 and the story of Jacob in Genesis 27 through 30.  God took what looked like failure and turned it into success.  Moses, Samson and David are other examples of men failing but God using their failure to bring about His will and success.  The greatest example is the short three year period of Jesus' ministry and how God turned what looked like the ultimate failure into the greatest success.

Today my wife's event failed but out of that failure our friends know they have a person who loves them more than cash.  Two men started a new friendship and two men rediscovered old roots.  What looks like failure to most is the beginning new success in my wife's life.

I once heard someone say, "If you haven't failed you have been sitting on your butt for far too long."  Get up off the couch and get out and fail at something and as you do you will find more success than you found sitting on the couch.

I once heard someone say, "It isn't what happens to you that is important, it's what you do with what hapeens to you that counts".

What failure in your life can you allowed God to make a success?

Louisburg Herald Article

Sports - Louisburg 
Written by Andy Brown  
Wednesday, 29 July 2009 08:00 
Kat Clark had always wanted to do something like this, but she never had a real reason to put anything together.

But this reason was as good as any.

Clark, who is a Louisburg resident, has a recreation degree and has worked in parks and recreation departments before and has wanted to organize an event for the whole community. Now she is getting her chance and it is all to help out someone in need.

Kat, along with her husband Larry, is organizing Louisburg Kickball Fun Day for Aug. 8 at Lewis-Young Park, and it is open for ages 10 years and older. All the proceeds from the event go to a good cause.

Clark’s friend, Rick Duggan, an Overland Park resident, was recently diagnosed with a high level of copper toxicity in his body. At this point Duggan is unable to work his job as a self-employed carpenter. Doctors say the treatment process will take two to six months. 

Duggan worked in heavy chemicals in the grain business for many years, and that is probably the main source of the toxicity. He is currently receiving help from heath professionals and is on a detoxing program.

When Kat brought the idea to Rick about doing the fund-raiser, he wasn’t all that excited about it, but Kat did a little convincing.

“I told him he is just going to be my practice round,” Kat said. “I want to do the kickball thing on an annual basis so that the whole community can get involved. I think raising money for Rick and his wife Karen would be a great way to start it out.”

Louisburg Kickball Fun Day will stretch from the morning hours all the way until dusk. Chris Cakes will be there to serve breakfast, while Brian Jester will cater a burgers, dogs and more luncheon.

There will also be free arts and crafts for children who attend.

“I have only been trying to put this thing together for about three-and-a-half weeks, so I have had to do a lot in a short amount of time, but I hope people can come out and have fun,” Kat said. “The city was kind enough to donate the fields to us for a day, and we are hoping for a big turnout.”

To register a team, or to find out more information about the kickball event, visit http://louisburgkickball.blogspot.com.