A Journey for Reform through Faith.
It’s been a while since I last wrote. There are various reasons why. My hip causes me a lot of pain and drains my energy. I have a lot going on with family, I have spent a lot of time at Hardhits helping the staff through busy season, and I have been working on creating an actionable plan for No Cap Fund.
Deciding to set myself aside a few years ago and focus my talents on others rather than myself has been challenging, to say the least. I’ve struggled dealing with it at times. It’s hard to know what you don’t know, and while I did know sacrifice would be hard, I had no idea how difficult it would be.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
-James 1:2–4 (NLT)
Sometimes I get down or angry, or both. I try my best not to let these feelings get the best of me. I have sought guidance from mentors, the Bible, and most importantly, God. And overall, compared to other leaders I have read about, at times, I think I’m doing ok, maybe okish…
There are times when I feel overwhelmed, like a failure, selfish, and I begin to doubt. It makes me want to give up, but that doubt is just a lie. It’s just the easy way out, and the easy way might be fulfilling in the moment, but it’s not the plan God has laid out for me. This is when faith, something I am learning about, kicks in, and I learn to trust, accept, and move forward.
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
-Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
On my journey for reform, besides educating myself, I have also worked to become a better person. More disciplined and thoughtful, more reflective and less reactionary. This has meant defeating my addictions and working hard. Most people wouldn’t think that I am an addict, but I am, and strangely, it’s a strength of mine.
My personal transformation through faith has reshaped how I see leadership. Before I can reform Congress, I must first reform myself. With God’s help, over the past few years, I have broken my addictions. I stopped drinking regularly, quit watching mindless TV, and let go of my biggest addiction: fantasy football. This doesn’t mean I don’t watch TV, drink, or watch football; it means I no longer let them control me. I no longer seek them at the end of a long day. In fact, I rarely think about them. They are no longer distracting me from being a good father, husband, or leader.
“Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
-Ephesians 4:22–24 (NLT)
My ability to fall into habit—what once fed my addictions—has become a strength now that it’s directed outward instead of inward. I didn’t just give things up; I replaced them with purpose. Instead of drinking daily, I read the bible daily, and I give the time I spent on TV and Football to my wife, children, and employees. I was never a terrible drunk or an absent father and husband, but I wasn’t as much as I could be. By releasing myself from addiction, I can do more, be present more often, help others grow, and not just myself.
While working on the plan for No Cap Fund, I have spent a lot of time reading the gospels and Paul’s letters. I particularly relate to Paul (formerly Saul) as someone who thought he had everything figured out. I, like Saul, was close-minded and struggled to forgive; instead, I persecuted those I disagreed with.
The Gospels tell the story of Jesus, the son of God. He comes to teach us about forgiveness and purpose. He shows us that some have lost their way; instead of loving each other and serving God, they love themselves and serve the temple establishment. He tells us that to serve God, we must serve others.
“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant… For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others.”
-Matthew 20:26–28 (NLT)
In Paul’s letters, he reminds us that it is not ritual that brings us to God but acceptance of God’s invitation: a willingness to obey and understand, a purpose to serve and love, and to follow His Son. No person can regulate God’s love; it’s in all of us to accept His Word and follow his plan. Jesus did not judge us for walking astray; he offered us a way to forgiveness. He taught us we have the power to change. He gave us the power to stand up for what we believe in, and that we only need faith in Him to do so.
The teachings of Jesus are just as relevant today as they were when He walked the earth. Just as I’ve learned to redirect my focus from self to service, our leaders must do the same. Our government and media are more focused on themselves than they are on serving others.
When we turn on the TV or open social media, it’s likely the personality on the screen is talking about someone inside their sphere, arguing over who is right on policy or positions. One pundit or politician is typically attacking another. Often, the attacks are personal and stray from the actual policy that would help mend the divide.
“Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.”
-2 Timothy 2:23–24 (NLT)
It’s been going on so long that Americans have lost faith that anything can change. When I started knocking on doors back in 2021, the average person was quite knowledgeable about the problems we faced. They understood Congress was the branch failing us, but they said it wouldn’t get better, that it would take a miracle for change to happen.
But that is a lie. Jesus already taught us how to overcome this problem. He gave us the power to see miracles through forgiveness, purpose, service, and faith. We are not powerless. We are not stuck. We just have to remember what we were taught and live it.
“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
-Matthew 19:26 (NLT)
Peace & Love,
Jeff Mayhugh