A few nights ago, a very good friend called me around 11pm.  He affirmed my leadership and friendship and said he’d just gotten off the phone with another friend who is on staff at a church in another state.  The church has been growing and is in the middle of a building program.  Things had been going great until last week when the Pastor of that church admitted to having an affair.  The church has been devastated.  As my friend told me this, he said; “BJ, we’re close enough friends to where I need to ask you the hard questions and I need you to ask them of me.”  I agreed wholeheartedly, and so he immediately asked me: “Have you stepped across the line in any area?”  And I was thankful to tell him: “No”.   We talked for a few more minutes, and I ask him the same question – to which he answered “no”.

I’m so thankful he had the courage to call and to ask me how I was doing.   We’ve given each other the freedom to ask the hard questions and trust each other enough to be honest in our answers.  We all need someone to encourage us and a part of encouragement is accountability.  You can’t force true accountability, but we all need it and when you have someone you trust that’s willing to ask you the hard questions – then you are blessed.

If you are a Pastor – Staff Member – Leader – Husband – Wife – Single Adult – Student – Alive —– Who’s asking you the hard questions?